14/07/09 - Connecting People Meeting, Huge Success!

Our first Northern Cluster (Abbey Meads, Blusdon, Haydon Wick & Moredon wards) public meeting was a huge success with over 300 residents coming along to look at stands and displays on the theme of 'Free-Time'.  This included:

· Mouldon Hill Plans

· Leisure Centres

· Play Areas

· Libraries

· Arts Centre

· Arts Service

· Museums

· Youth Service

· Cylce Paths

· Swindon & Cricklade Railway

· Local Councillors / Haydon Wick & Blunsdon Parish Councils

Cllr Justin Tomlinson, "I was really chuffed that so many people took the time to come and engage, helping to shape the way services and facilities are provided.  The Mouldon Hill plans were of particular interest with local residents giving the landscapers their suggestions.''

Cllr Peter Heaton-Jones of Haydon Wick Parish Council

Cllr Justin Tomlinson talks to PCSO Lee Hare and WPC Chloe Smith

Cllrs Justin Tomlinson and Vera Tomlinson talk to PCSO Lee Hare and WPC Chloe Smith

Swindon Advertiser coverage...

North Swindon residents met their local councillors in a pub as part of a scheme to break the ice between politics and the people.

They also got a first look at the development plans for Mouldon Hill Country Park at the meeting, which was part of an initiative to encourage the people to say what they like and dislike about life in Swindon.

The meeting at the Tawny Owl Pub in Taw Hill was brought under Swindon council’s Connecting People Connecting Places initiative aimed at engaging communities to help make decisions.

This was the first meeting of the North cluster, which encompasses Haydon Wick, Abbey Meads, Moredon and Blunsdon.

Coun Justin Tomlinson (Abbey Meads/Cons.), chairman of the northern cluster, who came up with the informal style of Monday’s meeting, said: “We’re encouraging residents to say the good and the bad and give us suggestions to take away to improve the services.

“It’s bringing the council to the residents.”

‘Free time’ was the theme with various stalls set up to demonstrate to people the scope of activities on their doorstep and further themed events are planned for the future. The meeting proved popular with over 50 people through the doors in the first hour with stalls on offer including Swindon libraries service, Swindon Integrated Youth Support Service and Swindon and Cricklade Railway.

Rob Hopkins, 36, from Queen Elizabeth Drive, Taw Hill, had come along because he had only recently moved to the area.

“It’s good to see the community’s quite pro-active – I’m quite surprised,” he said.

“It’s quite refreshing that they are doing something like this in a pub.”

However, the principal attraction of the meeting was the chance to see detailed plans of the Mouldon Hill development and speak to landscapers working on behalf of the council.

The development has been divided three time phases, the first being to sort out the pitches already in place, the car parking and the removal of the gates blocking the entrance by December 2009.

By March 2010 the landscapers aim to have completed the footpaths around the park and do planting and, if greater funding becomes available, they hope to install a multi-use games area, visitors’ centre and play area.

Senior landscaper Chris Anniss said nearby residents’ main concern had been provision for car parking because in the current situation they said park users were parking in front of their driveways.

Sue Harris, 60, of Calder Close, Haydon Wick, had come along to find out when her husband would be able to drive through the park gates to walk their dogs.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea to have something like this for people to see what’s available,” she said. “I’m surprised that it is this busy so early, but I’m glad because it means people are interested in what’s happening in North Swindon.

“The idea is worth using around the whole of Swindon in each area.”