03/11/09 - Various Planning / Development Updates

Mouldon Hill Update

I am delighted that the planning application for Phase 1 of the improvements to the Mouldon Hill parkare due to come to planning in January. As soon as the finalplans are fully drawn up, I will make sure all residents are updated.Phase 1 will primarily deal with the access land between the entrance and the lake. Following on from our extremely successful public meeting on Mouldon Hill, the huge amounts of ideas and suggestions from local residents have helped shape these plans that are being drawn up. The key elements will be to provide onsite parking, football pitches (adjacent to the bridge), pedestrian, cycle and bridleway pathways and planting.

Abbey Stadium / Land Update

Gaming International & Thistle Land who own the Abbey Stadium and adjacent land had shelved plans for the development of the sites due to the economic downturn. They have now started to revisit the site to explore as to whether they can progress. Should they do so I will make sure all local residents are updated and any potential plans for the site are put on public display for local residents to help shape and influence. I suspect nothing will happen until the economy has picked up.

Motorola Site Change Of Use

Vygon, apharmaceutical supplier have acquired the Motorola site. Should they wish to alter the building, then I will make sure all local residents are updated and any plans put on public display. We aren't expecting significant changes as Vygon's requirements for the site are considerably smaller than the original plans for Motorola.

Oakhurst Primary School

I am delighted that the ongoing work to complete the Oakhurst Primary School site is on schedule.

Priory Village Centre

The pharmacy is currently being fitted out, and the two new empty units are being actively marketed for retail use.Planning permission has now been granted for two restaurants and a pizza take-away is also expected to follow. These three food outlets should start to take shape before too long now approval has been granted.There is no update on the proposed pub site, as Crest Nicholson are struggling to find a pub chain to take on the site during the economic downturn.There is no update on the proposed church site as Crest Nicholson have been unable to find a church group to purchase the land. We will be meeting the developers to explore what alternative options there could be for this site and if there are we will not only update local residents but look at ways that local residents could have the final say as this land is currently set aside for community use.

Queen Elizabeth Drive Link Update

The completion of Queen Elizabeth Drive is still being frustrated by the estate of the late farm owner who own this 'ransom strip' of land. They are unwilling to release this land to the developers to complete the road link unless the developers paya huge premium. However once the final housing development has been completed Swindon Council would then be in a position to force the release of this land. This has moved closer withPersimmon working on plans for the final area of development (H63). As a resident of Queen Elizabeth Drive myself, I am extremely frustrated at the selfish actions of the land owners.

Schools Admission Public Meeting

Thank you to all the parents who took advantage of our successful 3rd annual schools admission informal public meeting. The Schools Admission team were on hand to discuss faceto facewith local parents their individual options for applying for Primary & Secondary schools places in the Northern Sector. As ever we will do all we can to continue to assist local parents and to help deliver additional school places.We will continue to organise informal open public meetings on any issues we feel of interest to local residents and we would welcome any suggestions for future meetings.

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