It’s been pleasing to open the Swindon Advertiser and read about the significant government investment in housing and transport projects in and around the town.

We saw recently that Swindon was given £400,000 to redevelop the car park in John Street, speeding up the building of more much-needed houses.

The money came from the Land Release Fund, which helps councils overcome difficulties which would otherwise make development on their land impossible or very unlikely.

Swindon also received £11.5million via the Housing Infrastructure Fund towards two other important projects.

Some £6.5million will go towards a road and bridge at Kingsdown, paving the way for 1,650 houses to be built, while £5million will help to construct a road linking the A419 to the New Eastern Villages development, which is due to contain 8,000 homes and a wealth of community facilities.

This substantial investment is most welcome and will drive forward the delivery of the extra homes we desperately need, backed up by good supporting infrastructure, which is so important.

We shouldn’t forget that, in the autumn, Swindon was awarded over £2.5million towards junction and road-widening improvements to Mead Way.

With improvements to the rail network also in the pipeline, including new high-speed GWR trains with extra capacity at peak times, I’m optimistic for the future.

I applaud the council, our local MPs Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson and everyone else involved for their work to secure this extra investment and attention for Swindon and beyond.

Regards

Ronald Chadwick

54 The Bramptons