Your chance to shape Swindon's future (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Your chance to shape Swindon's future
8:30am Tuesday 25th August 2009 in Local
PEOPLE of all ages have been given the opportunity to shape the future of Swindon.
Swindon Council wants as many people as possible to share ideas about how to improve their town over the next two decades.
The council has appealed to people to read its draft core strategy, which sets out how it will address major issues until 2026.
All public comments will influence the final version of the strategy, which will become a blueprint for how best to put Swindon on the worldwide map.
Angela Clack, local development framework manager at Swindon Council, said: “It wouldn’t be a document for Swindon without that input from the people of Swindon.”
Issues up for consideration include demands from central Government for 35,000 new homes in Swindon, the creation of a canal network, and the building of new schools.
The council also wants to hear peoples’ thoughts on how to best attract a leading university to Swindon and how to tempt shoppers back into the town centre.
A range of public exhibitions are being provided to allow different neighbourhoods to make their voices heard.
Ms Clack said. “We have worked hard to involve the community in this and we would like to see as many people as possible at the exhibitions over the next month.
“There will be planning officers at each exhibition to answer any questions and we will have a summary leaflet setting out the key points of the strategy.
“It covers a whole range of issues from infrastructure that’s necessary for development over the next 20 years to a vision for culture in Swindon.
“It is important that people in Swindon are involved in planning the future of their town.”
The council’s draft core strategy document reads: “In 2026 Swindon will be a regional centre that has raised its image through developing its own identity built on sustainable growth and respect for its railway heritage.
“It will have a regenerated town centre that includes a cutting edge new university, the reinstatement of the canal through central Swindon and linked to the countryside by a strategic network of multifunctional open spaces and waterways.
“An integrated and sustainable transport system will enable easy movement around the borough.
“Communities will be sustainable, cohesive and healthy, and residents will enjoy a quality of life that does not use more resources than the environment can provide.”
Once the core strategy is adopted all planning applications will have to abide by it.
Copies of the strategy will be available at a series of exhibitions but they can also be picked up at any library or found online at www.swindon.gov.uk.
Residents have until 4.30pm on Monday, September 21 to give their opinions.
For further information email forwardplanning@swindon.gov.uk.
Public Exhibitions
Comments(9)
I Too
says...
2:04pm Tue 25 Aug 09
Part of the core strategy is the 750 dwellings, near Day House Lane. 50, 000 or so people have already stated their opinion on that, but it's been put into the plan regardless, not because central government said so, but because SBC have "planned" it.
Nothing more than a self serving lip service.
Bobby Bee
says...
4:05pm Tue 25 Aug 09
It is obvious that on these web pages we are all saying the same thing ie that the town centre is dead etc.
What is much harder is to come up with proactive ideas.
So, readers, start thinking , and make sure you put your thoughts down at one of these exhibitions.
You never know, they may just get taken up by a desperate Council.
BadProspects
says...
4:31pm Tue 25 Aug 09
itsamess
says...
7:10pm Tue 25 Aug 09
s sorry cant have 9 mill for that as we need to boost the pension fund for WCC employees--yet the labour leader would never explain what happened to the rest. Since the change that brought about paid councillors--cabinet and committees we have seen a vast increase in committees and partnerships all with committees--a nice little earner for many and a drain on resources--so come on folks--insist on fair play--give everyone a chance to discuss this master plan to shape the future of our town--oh and folks--get rid of the old school of councillors that have proved time and again how totally useless they are.
bilzinusa
says...
8:43pm Tue 25 Aug 09
itsamess wrote:Right on Buddy...tell it like it is !!!
Since when has this Council--or its predecessors listened to public opinion--after all the important decision meetings are held at times when folk are at work and as stated so are these viewings. 7 viewings at 4 locations--wow a truly swindonwide event and all has to be completed by 21st sept. Go back to the Brunel sale--the Labour Council Sold for £92 millions and asked us via the Adver what we wanted it spent on--top answer=library---oop
s sorry cant have 9 mill for that as we need to boost the pension fund for WCC employees--yet the labour leader would never explain what happened to the rest. Since the change that brought about paid councillors--cabinet and committees we have seen a vast increase in committees and partnerships all with committees--a nice little earner for many and a drain on resources--so come on folks--insist on fair play--give everyone a chance to discuss this master plan to shape the future of our town--oh and folks--get rid of the old school of councillors that have proved time and again how totally useless they are.
Billy-o
says...
9:36pm Tue 25 Aug 09
BadProspects wrote:If you're that bothered about it, you can make time at lunchtime or leave work a little bit early. Failing that, look at the website, drop into the Council offices at any time during the consultation period or email your questions or comment. Stop making excuses, lightweight.
Errr... ....... "PEOPLE of all ages have been given the opportunity to shape the future of Swindon. " ....... Except they haven't. Not one of those exhibition dates is at a time of evening that a 9 to 5.30 worker could make - nor is there a single date at the weekend.
And I suspect that everyone'd be heard by the Council a lot more successfully if you commented to the Council rather than posting here.
And don't forget that just because you express an opinion to the Council it must therefore be right and taken on board. The Council may well hear you, but chose to listen to someone else's opinion.
Home Boy
says...
10:25pm Tue 25 Aug 09
Billy-o wrote:But that's the whole point! If the public have to make an extraordinary effort to get there then you're likely to obtain only the unrepresentative strong views. This consultation needs to be taking place outside school gates in the mornings, in the outlet village at weekends, in the sports centres, gyms, pubs, and other places that the general population frequent. Private industry reasearch groups always use this model, surely it's not too much effort for the public sector to follow suit?
BadProspects wrote:If you're that bothered about it, you can make time at lunchtime or leave work a little bit early. Failing that, look at the website, drop into the Council offices at any time during the consultation period or email your questions or comment. Stop making excuses, lightweight.
Errr... ....... "PEOPLE of all ages have been given the opportunity to shape the future of Swindon. " ....... Except they haven't. Not one of those exhibition dates is at a time of evening that a 9 to 5.30 worker could make - nor is there a single date at the weekend.
And I suspect that everyone'd be heard by the Council a lot more successfully if you commented to the Council rather than posting here.
And don't forget that just because you express an opinion to the Council it must therefore be right and taken on board. The Council may well hear you, but chose to listen to someone else's opinion.
You're right, a lot of the people that post on here should comment more to the Council, but equally the Council should take on board the comments left on here. It's one of the few open forums available for people to comment on the state of our town.
It is quite worrying that, when we live in a large town with relatively low unemployment, a low crime rate and a high average salary, a large number of the posters are so negative. But surely that should make the point to the Council that they need engage more with public and address their opinions rather than shooting in the dark and persuing pie in the sky ideas.
Billy-o
says...
11:07pm Tue 25 Aug 09
BadProspects says...
1:30pm Tue 25 Aug 09
.......
"PEOPLE of all ages have been given the opportunity to shape the future of Swindon. "
.......
Except they haven't. Not one of those exhibition dates is at a time of evening that a 9 to 5.30 worker could make - nor is there a single date at the weekend.