Post by Coate Water on Mar 11, 2009 15:00:05 GMT -5
www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/4125884.MP_highlights_possible_delay_in_Coate_building_plans/
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.
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.
