THE sprawling residential areas of Shaw, Middleleaze, Ramleaze and Eastleaze form the heart of the town’s western expansion.

Major housebuilding projects in the 1980s and 1990s completed the leafy suburban pockets, which act like little villages and communities within themselves.

Shaw has become the entertainment capital of West Swindon, with the luxury Village Hotel – formerly the De Vere – Cineworld, Laser Quest and the Tenpin bowling alley just some of the features of Shaw Ridge Leisure Park.

Behind this lies a large, picturesque park with footpaths and cycleways, as well as a new play area for youngsters and this is just a short walk from Shaw Village Centre, on Ramleaze Drive.

With Holy Trinity Church, the local pub, a vets and a hairdressers, locals have almost everything they need within walking distance.

Nick Martin, a borough councillor for the ward of Shaw and Nine Elms, lives in Middleleaze.

He said the area has a general sense of identity but most residents form communities around shared backgrounds and activities.

He said: “There is a community spirit here but it seems that there are communities within communities.

“People will travel for activities across the town but we are quite lucky there are a lot of facilities nearby.”

He said Shaw and the surrounding areas have seen some big changes, including the redevelopment of Shaw Forest Park and a new primary school building.

“A lot of it has been quite huge and people might not necessarily realise that,” he said.

“There were a number of school issues and it was a long journey to have Shaw Forest restored from a Wiltshire tip into a 170-acre forest.

“I worked with other councillors in the closing of Salt Way Primary School, which is now a children’s centre, and to have new schools built in this place.”

As part of a major education shake-up Swindon Council decided to close Salt Way School, in Middleleaze, in 2006 and sanction a £4.8m rebuild of Shaw Ridge Primary School in Ridge Green.

In its place the council installed a children’s centre to offer health and education services for parents, carers and their children from birth to four.

Eastleaze resident Chris Hill believes locals want for nothing with all the facilities such as the Link Centre and the leisure park on the doorstep.

The 70-year-old former care worker said: “I’ve lived here for about 14 years and it’s very quiet around here normally.

“All the neighbours are on first-name terms and we all try and help each other out when they need it. We all look out for one another. Everyone is very friendly “To be honest we don’t need to go into town – what more do we want?

“The little footpaths are great. My husband and daughter go running and won’t find a main road for miles. It’s like being out in the country in the middle of town.”

In Ramleaze, the active Holy Trinity Church youth cafe has proved so popular that it is being opened to the elderly.

Youth work manager Claire Camm said: “It was the young people’s idea following our autumn fundraiser when we welcomed in local residents for refreshments and games.

“The young people will be making cakes and running the cafe alongside adult helpers, which will include craft activities, games, films, and other activities.

We hope that the elderly folks will have some hobbies which they can share with us too.

“We asked what people would like to see in this community and many people of all ages responded that a cafe would strengthen the community and help bridge the gap between old and young.”

The weekly cafe meets at the church and from January 26 it will be open once a month on a Wednesday to local elderly residents.