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Community News

North Star ski development receives Swindon Council’s bid for Thamesdown
last minute reprieve Drive extension unsuccessful

A property investment company Skills, said: “It was a bold call to
has submitted a proposal to serve the notice of termination on Plans for a road linking from the Government, the council
take over the scheme to create a Moirai, but we had to take that Thamesdown Drive with Great will continue to explore options for
regional leisure hub at North Star in action to kick-start this hugely Western Way have suffered a the development and delivery of
Swindon. exciting scheme and get it moving. massive blow after a bid for the scheme. The views of the local
Seven Capital Investments Ltd, “Our decision has been vindicated government funding was rejected. community will be sought as part of
which is one of the UK’s leading as a major investor has stepped Swindon Borough Council, the review.
private capital investors, has agreed forward with an impressive track working in partnership with Cllr Keith Williams, cabinet
in principle to acquire control of record of developing major schemes, Swindon and Wiltshire Local member for StreetSmart, Highways
Moirai Capital Investments in order which is willing to pick up the Enterprise Partnership (SWLEP), and Transport, said: “I am naturally
to take forward plans to transform baton from Moirai and help us submitted a bid for £1.27 million disappointed our bid fell short. The
North Star with more than £100m deliver what will be a landmark from the Department of Transport’s good news is that the Department
of investment. regeneration project for the town.” Large Local Schemes Fund in order for Transport gave us some
Moirai was given until 12 January Swindon’s Labour group leader to pay for a detailed design, all encouraging feedback and we
2017 to fulfil the terms of the Cllr Jim Grant said: “Instead of the environmental surveys, and intend to build on that”.
notice or see the development crowing about resurrecting this the preparation of both a planning Kevin Fisher, of Shaw Residents
agreement terminated. But deal, Councillor Perkins should be application and business case, Association (SRA) which was part of
following the proposal by Seven apologising to local businesses who although campaign group TDEX TDEX, released a statement via the
Capital, the council withdrew the have not received money owed to believes that the failure was due group’s Facebook page, which said:
notice of termination on 11 January. them by Moirai. to a proper business case not being “Members of SRA worked hard to
If Seven Capital’s proposals are “The fact Moirai have had to presented by the council. ensure the ‘business plan’ submitted
supported by cabinet, detailed find another company to fund the It was hoped that, if successful, for this latest futile attempt was
planning proposals could be project shows that they had no a further bid would have been as good as it could be. Sadly, we
submitted later this year. financial backing in the first place, submitted to the Government for reported in December 2015 that we
Cllr Garry Perkins, Swindon bringing in to question the council’s full funding support of the £44 were unable to support the report
Borough Council’s cabinet member ability to carry out due diligence million scheme in two years’ time. or the process in which it was
for the Economy, Regeneration and before agreeing these contracts.” Due to the feedback received compiled.”

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