SWINDON Bicycle Users Group (Swindon Bug) is holding a free cycle orienteering event to encourage both new and experienced cyclists to use the town’s network of cycle tracks and paths.
The event, which will be held on April 26, is part of Swindon Council’s Challenge Swindon initiative, and is one of a number of events being held in April as part of the Think: Swindon campaign to encourage people to see Swindon from a different perspective.
Tamina Oliver from national cycling organisation CTC, and the cycle champions officer in Swindon, said: “It’s becoming even easier to cycle to work, school or to the shops, as the Council is producing an up-to-date version of the Swindon Cycling Map, and the cycle orienteering event is the perfect way to explore the routes at your own pace.”
Participants will be given a copy of the latest cycling map with a number of checkpoints marked on it. They can choose any route and visit as many control points as they want to collect as many points as they can in a set time.
The event is free and will start and finish at Coate Water, although there are alternative start and finish points at the Link Centre and Haydon Centre. To take part, just turn up with a cycle at any time from 9.45am. The event finishes at 3pm.
All cyclists should have a roadworthy bike and are strongly recommended to wear a cycle helmet and bring a few tools and spares to repair punctures.
To register in advance call 01793 763162 or email letsgocycling @btinternet.com. For more information about Think: Swindon visit www.swindonculture.org.
MP highlights possible delay in Coate building plans
12:20pm Saturday 14th February 2009 By James Wallin »
THE university that wants to build on land near Coate Water would not be able to do so until 2011 at the earliest.
This is the view of Anne Snelgrove, South Swindon MP, who spoke on the fourth day of the public inquiry into developing a campus at Coate.
Mrs Snelgrove rubbished claims by the University of the West of England that they could bring a university to the town immediately, if planning permission was granted.
She produced evidence by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) which stated that no financial support had been given to UWE.
She also quoted the Higher Education Funding Council England (HEFCE), which has said that the UWE would not be able to expand its presence in Swindon before 2011/12.
Mrs Snelgrove said: “I have received an email from Tony Bray at SWRDA, who said – ‘hypothetically we could have indicated that we would fund development at Coate but if this was not in accordance with local planning policy and the best wider interest of Swindon then we would have been wrong – we haven’t at any time indicated financial support for Coate’.
“I have also spoken to HEFCE and received this response – ‘Additional Student Numbers (ASNs) will be key to UWE’s ability to expand in Swindon and, at present, we have further ASNs available to allocate for 2009-10 or 2010-11’.
“This is a pivotal decision to the town – both in terms of bringing a university to Swindon and where that university would go. That is why we must make sure that we are not bounced into a decision by developers.
“This is the most important issue for the town since the closure of the railways. There is a huge desire to have significant higher education facility in Swindon. We have to make sure the decision is come to in a calm and reasonable manner and with all the facts at our fingertips.
“I was the first in my family to go to university and out of my 45 cousins only five went to university, so I appreciate the value of a university. I am fully in touch with where my constituents are coming from on this issue, and this is a topic of great concern to them.”
Mrs Snelgrove pointed out that the type of university UWE wanted to bring to Swindon was significantly different to that proposed by the University of Bath, in that it would be a smaller project which did not require such a substantial site.
She said: “Swindon has been bruised by the withdrawal of Bath from Oakfield and this has made people very sceptical about any future university in Swindon.
Coate housing 'key for target' 7:40am Thursday 19th February 2009
A PLANNING expert says development at Coate is essential to achieving Swindon Council’s housing targets.
Speaking on day six of the Coate enquiry at Swindon’s Marriott Hotel, Pegasus Planning Group boss Stephen Bawtree said Swindon’s desperate need for housing is an ‘important material consideration’ which supports the argument in favour of the Coate development.
Mr Bawtree already counts the northern development of Swindon as a feather in his cap as well as expansion projects in Chippenham and Calne.
As part of his evidence Mr Bawtree quoted part of a statement from Swindon Council.
The statement says “...Swindon faces potential barriers to its continued success – a disappointing town centre, poor image and limited cultural offer and a low educational attainment. Through working with key private and public partners, Swindon is set to become a destination of choice.”
He went on to say that Swindon Council’s ambitions for the town include a new university campus for around 8,000 students alongside 1,800 houses, employment opportunities and an extension to the Great Western Hospital.
Following his review of the growth in Swindon, Mr Bawtree said that although Swindon is in need of housing and has other development areas available, the council should ensure that it does not undermine the Local Plan by making the wrong decision.
“I find that the need for housing is an important material consideration which supports the grant of planning permissions,” he said.
“Even if Swindon Council are right in their assertion that they have adequate supply of deliverable housing land, it is incumbent on the council to demonstrate whether the granting of planning permissions would undermine policy objectives.”
The housing proposals have angered Coate campaigner Jean Saunders.
On day two of the inquiry she said: “I would say that developers would sell their grandmothers to build houses.
“The council are trying to say they could bring proposals forward and they assume the planning applications will quickly go through the committee, but we will be objecting to every single application.
“There’s no way houses should be built on Coate on the strength of public opinion alone.”
SWINDON is getting ready to start preparing its bid for a university.
Higher Education Funding for England (HEFCE) has published guidance on how towns from across the country should bid for funding.
Councillor Philip Young, Swindon Council cabinet member for regeneration and economic development, said: “We are absolutely committed to a town centre site for the university. All the conversations we are having with funding providers are about the town centre.
“We will take away the guidelines and will look at them to fully understand how best we can enter our bid for funding.
“We won’t let Coate and the location issue of the university divert us.”
But he insisted the University of the West of England (UWE) is still the best education facility for the town, despite it wanting to build near beauty spot Coate Water.
A planning inquiry into the merits of that plan has been hearing evidence for several weeks and is expected to wrap up this week.
“I am really confident that we can put the case together that Swindon needs a university,” said Mr Young.
“It is down to us that the message gets through to Government and that it understands what we will deliver.”
Twenty seven towns around the country have said they are interested in having a university.
9:20am Tuesday 10th March 2009 By Jeremy Grimaldi »
YOUNG members of a gun wielding gang have admitted holding the weapon to their terrified victim’s head.
The gang members, who are all aged between 13 and 16-years-old, cannot be named for legal reasons. But at Swindon Magistrates’ Court yesterday they pleaded guilty before their trials were set to begin.
A 15-year-old from Park South pleaded guilty to possessing an imitation firearm and robbery, a 14-year-old from Park North admitted robbery and possession of an imitation firearm.
Another 15-year-old from Park South pleaded guilty to robbery, a 13-year-old from Eldene pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm and a 16-year-old, from Park North, also pleaded guilty to ABH.
Roxanne Cole, prosecuting, said the incident occurred at Coate Water last July when five teens sat at a play park were approached by the boy with a red bandanna covering part of his face, carrying a ball-bearing gun.
She said the boy was quickly followed by the four other members of the gang.
The 14-year-old with the gun approached Jonathan Salisbury, 18, pointed the gun at his head and demanding his belongings. That included cans of lager, a mobile phone and two bags.
Ms Cole said he then handed the gun to the 15-year-old while he looked for further items.
While this was occurring the 13-year-old boy and another 16-year-old attacker assaulted another 16-year-old, who they had witnessed picking up a knife that had fallen on the ground. The 13-year-old then picked up a branch and swung it at the boy twice cutting him, the court heard.
The youngsters were later arrested and in police interview the five boys told a number of different stories – with only the 13-year-old telling the truth and saying where the gun was, though when police went to recover the weapon nothing was found.
Simon Tibbits, defending the 14-year-old who first carried the gun, who had previous convictions, said his defendant didn’t keep anything other than the beer.
He said: “He was only 14-years-old at the time and he wasn’t holding the gun throughout. He also didn’t actually use any violence – only threatened it.”
Terry McCarthy, defending the 15-year-old, said: “He was not pointed out as one of the main perpetrators by the people who reported it to police, the gun was thrown to him, he did hold the gun and was honest with police.”
Tony Nowogrodzki, defending, the 16 and 15-year-olds, said his clients were on the periphery of the incident.
He said: “He was 15-years-old when this happened and only became involved when he saw a knife, as a result he struck a blow.
“The 16-year-old was at the lowest end of everyone here, he was asked to carry bags, he carried the bags across the street, he has been dragged along in this matter.”
Philip Hall, defending the 13-year-old, who lives in Hull, said his client was the only one to tell the police the truth and pleaded guilty in December. He said: “There is a clear distinction between my client and the rest.”
1:13pm Friday 20th February 2009 By Emma Streatfield »
THE Coate public inquiry did not go ahead today and has been halted for a week.
A spokesman for Swindon Council said that the inquiry sits on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, but yesterday’s session was cancelled because the inquiry was ahead of schedule and that the week break had always been planned.
He said: “There was always going to be a week adjournment, but as this stage of the inquiry was finished early there was no need to come back this morning.”
The inquiry into Swindon Gateway Partnership’s proposal to build a university and 1,800 homes on land near Coate Water will resume on March 3 when the planning inspector will make a site visit and then there will be further round table sessions over several days.
Closing submissions are then expected on March 10.
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