10/05/07 - Blunsdon Parish Council AGM, Our Annual Report
Abbey Meads Ward - Borough Council Report
For Blunsdon Parish Council AGM
Cllr Justin Tomlinson
We organised an extremely high profile campaign to save Junction 6a from closure. The campaign included: petition, consultation, extensive media coverage and a public meeting attended by over 300 residents. Thanks to extensive pressure the developers agreed not to proceed with the road closure, with support from the Council who would monitor the safety of the junction in the future.
Working with local residents and speedway fans, we helped support the campaign to oppose plans to redevelop the Abbey Stadium without speedway provision. campaign included: petition, consultation, extensive media coverage and we attended the public forum for the whole day. Whilst we welcome the change of land use on the land adjacent to the stadium from 'light industrial' to 'residential and business', we did not support the lose of speedway. Any development at both the Abbey Stadium, and land adjacent will always be complex and any developer will need the support of Swindon Council if they are planning a change of land-use, therefore we (Swindon Council) were able to block any development without speedway provision. A revised scheme is due to be submitted which would include speedway provision.
With pressure continuing to grow on the local schools, we supported measures to add a further 26 places at both Abbey Meads and Catherine Wayte Primary school. We are also looking to see whether Red Oaks can take on an additional 30 places to cover the shortage in the Oakhurst area.
Much to the relief of local residents on St. Andrews Ridge, the former Tesco store has now re-opened as a Cost Cutter.
After the extremely successful campaigns to block both a McDonalds and a KFC on land adjacent to Ash Brake, we were delighted to secure a high quality pub. (Just a shame they chose a name which confuses a number of lost local motorists!)
- Priory Vale Village Centre - Public Meeting
We organised a public meeting attended by over 150 local residents in conjunction with the 'Link Magazine' to discuss the future plans of the Priory Vale Village Centre. In attendance was a representative from the developer who faced (rightly so) a grilling about the design, type of shops and the reasons for delay. We will continue to keep pressure on the developer to deliver these much needed facilities.
- Recycling / Wheelie Bins - Public Exhibition
In addition to the public meeting for on the future plans for the Priory Vale Village Centre we also held an informal public exhibition on the proposed changes to the recycling scheme and wheelie bins.
- The Underground - Youth Facility
We are delighted that this facility is now open 7 days a week, an excellent service for local young people.
We have continued to apply pressure on developers to improve areas still of their responsibility, such as completing work and maintaining areas (landscaping and litter).
- Cllr Peter Stoddart - Re-elected
Congratulations to Cllr Peter Stoddart who was re-elected on Thursday 3rd May for a further four years.
