WHY are Swindon's best green spaces and rural buffer all under threat at once?

There are now plans afoot for vast developments at the Front Garden, Coate Water, Shaw Community Forest, and Swindon's rural buffer at Purton and Cricklade. Together these would amount to some 26,000 houses and a stadium with accompanying new roads, traffic and pressure on existing communities.

Meanwhile there are brownfield sites that should be re-developed first. The Northern Development still has a long way to go. Should this not also be completed prior to releasing more green fields?

Infrastructure and services are already overstretched. For example, 11 double-decker buses take children from Swindon to school in Purton every day. Many local people are unaware of all the plans. Some key aspects of the plans have been deemed to be 'off limits' for discussion. Should consultants representing developers who may have commercial interests in the outcome, take limited space round the table for discussions at the forthcoming Structure Plan inquiry?

Is a mockery being made of the Government's expressed aim to involve the community in planning? Can community involvement be meaningful if the strategic decisions have already, in practice, been taken prior to any consultation with the public?

CPRE campaigns for sensible development, for the renewal of Swindon's town centre first and for the provision of affordable houses in the right places.

Charmian Spickernell

Vice Chairman

Wiltshire Branch Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)

Wootton Bassett