HAYDON END

Orchid Vale Summer Fayre

Don't forget - July 4th, 2:00-4:30pm

Road Works in Havisham Drive

As part of the final ground works for what is called areas H74-H75, work has started on the roads and pavements around Havisham Drive and Estella Close. The instruction given to the ground workers is that no access will be blocked ie no drives or entrances, during this process. No final date for the wroks has been given as yet, apart from by the end of July.

Adoption of Open Spaces

The Adoption of Open Spaces was briefly discussed at the Parish Council meeting on June 16th, under a proposal to bring about early adoption of the roads and open spaces by Swindon Council (SBC). This was prompted by the very slow progress over levelling and seeding of the Havisham Drive/Estella Close open space, where promise after promise over the last 18 months, have been broken. This was exasperated by the establishment of a contractor's dumping compound, which rapidly became a fly tipping site, in June. After pressure from SBC and others, this has now been removed.

Following discussions with Cllr Justin Tomlinson and others in the council, I understand that:

No Bus Gate solution in sight

The Bus Gate was briefly discussed at the Parish Council meeting on June 16th, under a proposal to bring about early adoption of the roads and open spaces by Swindon Council (SBC). Following discussions with Cllr Justin Tomlinson and others in the council, I understand that:

 

Helping Arms

I have received this message, but not had time to investigate:

 

We have received a leaflet this morning about a 'charity' collection that will take place on Tuesday.

The leaflet gives the company name "Helping Arms" and a company number.

Being slightly suspicious I googled this company and found numerous hits on how this company is not a charitable organisation and sells donations for a profit!

Bus Gate - Parish Meeting

"A resident has sent an email to the Chairman stating his view as follows:

The issue is one that I feel will not go away until the bus lane is placed in its final position between the two bus stops at the end of Casterbridge Road. The sooner this is done the better as it will then hopefully end the disapproving looks from residents in Primrose Close (etc) whenever we drive down there."

 

The whole extract from the Minutes of the 25th Meeting of Council held Tuesday 19 May 2009,  is shown below. It seems that there were no members of the public at the meeting.

Bus Lane update

Rising concern over the confusion regarding the site of the "Bus Gate" can be seen by the number of comments at the item Bus Lane Signs. Cllr Justin Tomlinson provided an update under the comments section, which, for convenience, is repeated here.

---

 

I just wanted to reassure everyone that we (Councillors) are relentlessly chasing this issue up.

In a nutshell, the roads are unadopted and therefore in the control of the developers. They have repeatadly assured us the bus gate will be properly installed (allowing enforcement to take place) however they feel cars having 'access' at the moment will help them sell their latest development of 40 houses as ...

 

Prime Minister hits at cuts in Services

Just in case you missed an interesting exchange in the House of Commons yesterday, I've repeated the Swindon Brough Council Question here. (From Hansard May 6^th, 2009). I suppose your reaction will depend on which side of the political divide you sit - low council taxes or more services.

 

Anne Snelgrove (South Swindon) (Lab): Local people are very concerned about Swindon borough council's cuts in park-and-ride services and about cuts of up to four branch libraries, despite more than £400,000 of extra funding from the Government. Is that not a warning of Tory public service cuts instead of Labour investment?

Care Home Update

The revised planning application for the Torun Way Care Home was discussed at the Haydon Wick Parish Council meeting on April 21st.

 

The Council raised the following objections for consideration by Swindon Council:

 

 

[Photo - Guernsey Lane access to Care Home Site]

Torun Way temporary access

Angel Care plc has applied for planning application S/09/168 for

 

"a temporary construction access into site H86, Torun Way. Access created from Torun Way to avoid use of Guernsey Lane only during construction works. This application relates to concurrent application for development of site for Care Accommodation.

 

[Photo - Hedge along Torun Way at site of propsed access]