A CONSERVATION trust is determined to fight council plans to build on an area they say should be protected for its outstanding beauty.
And the Jefferies Land Conservation Trust has vowed to buy up any available land to stop developers from moving in.
The trust is opposed to Swindon Council's plans for 750 houses, as well as 15 hectares of employment land at Common-head, near Coate Water Country Park.
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It claims that the plans go against the council's promise that if no university comes forward to build a campus in the Coate/Badbury Wick area, no houses will be built there.
Jean Saunders, secretary of the trust, said: "No houses means no houses.
"The council might propose a larger buffer around Coate Water Country Park that they claim will be safe from development, but we might have this same battle again in a few years' time.
"Only seven years ago we were promised that the only new building in this corner of the town would be the new hospital and we won't be fooled again."
The proposal was included in the Swindon Core Strategy, which sets out the council's preferred options for the development of Swindon up to 2026.
The consultation paper was presented to the cabinet for approval on January 23.
The trust, which has previously fought proposals for the University of Bath to build at Coate, had asked that the land be re-designated as an Area of Local Landscape Importance.
Up until five years ago the area was protected due to its high visual value.
Mrs Saunders said: "Our members have agreed to set up a land fund with the intention of fund-raising to buy as much of the threatened farmland as possible and turn it into a wildlife haven, given a positive response from the land owners.
"We hope that Swindon people will back this idea and dip into their pockets to help".
The Jefferies Land Conservation Trust, named after the Victorian nature writer Richard Jefferies who lived at Coate, was set up in 2005.
It aims to protect and enhance the landscape around Coate Water.
For more information go to http://jefferiesland.org.uk or call Jean Saunders on 01793 783040.
Posted by: A GINGER, South Marston on 8:25am Thu 14 Feb 08
A promise from men and women such as those who run SWINDON could only be safe if on a legally binding document,then a probable loophole would be found[intensional]in the wording,these full time officials do not see a need for a local haven like Coate,they can enjoy themselves in so many
far flung hideaways,they get the salaries to pay for such things,. The poorer will only manage COATE COUNTRY
PARK on their pittance
Which the greedy developers have their eye on to cover with houses,but if the economy slips further downwards,the good land will be needed to grow food for those who already live here,the wet boggy soil of the flood plains will not give much of a return[ after July 07 fiasco]
A promise from men and women such as those who run SWINDON could only be safe if on a legally binding document,then a probable loophole would be foundin the wording,these full time officials do not see a need for a local haven like Coate,they can enjoy themselves in so many
far flung hideaways,they get the salaries to pay for such things,. The poorer will only manage COATE COUNTRY
PARK on their pittance
Which the greedy developers have their eye on to cover with houses,but if the economy slips further downwards,the good land will be needed to grow food for those who already live here,the wet boggy soil of the flood plains will not give much of a return
Posted by: Polymath, Swindon on 9:53am Thu 14 Feb 08
Jean Saunders lives in Faringdon and doesn't even pay council tax to the borough of Swindon. Go back to Oxfordshire Jean, and stop interfering with this town.
Jean Saunders lives in Faringdon and doesn't even pay council tax to the borough of Swindon. Go back to Oxfordshire Jean, and stop interfering with this town.
Posted by: Jake, Stratton on 10:26am Thu 14 Feb 08
Posted by: Polymath, Swindon on 9:53am today
Jean Saunders lives in Faringdon and doesn't even pay council tax to the borough of Swindon. Go back to Oxfordshire Jean, and stop interfering with this town.
The same goes for Gordon Brown, The Queen and the committee who decided that Swindon should build 20,00 new homes.
Posted by: Polymath, Swindon on 9:53am today
Jean Saunders lives in Faringdon and doesn't even pay council tax to the borough of Swindon. Go back to Oxfordshire Jean, and stop interfering with this town.
The same goes for Gordon Brown, The Queen and the committee who decided that Swindon should build 20,00 new homes.
[quote]And the Jefferies Land Conservation Trust has vowed to buy up any available land to stop developers from moving in.[/quote]
That won't work.
A group of residents where I live attempted to do the very same thing but Swindon Council, via their Planning Department, ensured that the land was sold to the developer for building flats and not to the residents who wanted to turn it into a lawn/garden area.
That shows you their intentions. 750 homes of the land at Coate? That's an instant £1 million a year Council Tax windfall... and you think they're going to say 'No' to [italic]that[/italic]?!?
They'll get the developer to pay for all the road and any other infrastruture necessary (plus a sweetener or two) via a Section 106 and, bingo!, nearly a million pounds a year extra to waste simply by letting the land near Coate disappear.
While I admire what the Jefferies Land Conservation Trust are doing, they haven't got a hope in hell.
And the Jefferies Land Conservation Trust has vowed to buy up any available land to stop developers from moving in.
That won't work.
A group of residents where I live attempted to do the very same thing but Swindon Council, via their Planning Department, ensured that the land was sold to the developer for building flats and not to the residents who wanted to turn it into a lawn/garden area.
That shows you their intentions. 750 homes of the land at Coate? That's an instant £1 million a year Council Tax windfall... and you think they're going to say 'No' to that?!?
They'll get the developer to pay for all the road and any other infrastruture necessary (plus a sweetener or two) via a Section 106 and, bingo!, nearly a million pounds a year extra to waste simply by letting the land near Coate disappear.
While I admire what the Jefferies Land Conservation Trust are doing, they haven't got a hope in hell.
Posted by: Al Smith, Swindon, UK on 1:10pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Not that this will help here but it is possible for people to register green spaces in their community as Village Greens (even if it's in a town/city).
The criteria is "inhabitants of a defined locality (or neighbourhood of a locality) have used the land for legal 'sports & pastimes' as of a perceived right for a period of 20 years".
Mind you, you'll have to put up a hard fight if the landowners have any plans to develop the land.
Not that this will help here but it is possible for people to register green spaces in their community as Village Greens (even if it's in a town/city).
The criteria is "inhabitants of a defined locality (or neighbourhood of a locality) have used the land for legal 'sports & pastimes' as of a perceived right for a period of 20 years".
Mind you, you'll have to put up a hard fight if the landowners have any plans to develop the land.
Posted by: john c, swindon on 5:21pm Thu 14 Feb 08
Jean Saunders does actually care about the environment and devotes a lot of her own time and effort trying to improve things locally.
I do not think it matters where she lives.
You do not have to agree with all that she stands for but you should admire anyone who is prepare to put their head above the parapet and speak out against things they believe to be wrong.
Jean Saunders does actually care about the environment and devotes a lot of her own time and effort trying to improve things locally.
I do not think it matters where she lives.
You do not have to agree with all that she stands for but you should admire anyone who is prepare to put their head above the parapet and speak out against things they believe to be wrong.
Old news, jean is just rehashing what has been said for years.
no point presuming anything, this current lot don't seem to rubberstamp applications anymore. Which donkey said yesterday they should be doing!
Old news, jean is just rehashing what has been said for years.
no point presuming anything, this current lot don't seem to rubberstamp applications anymore. Which donkey said yesterday they should be doing!
[quote]Jean Saunders lives in Faringdon and doesn't even pay council tax to the borough of Swindon. Go back to Oxfordshire Jean, and stop interfering with this town.[/quote]
Why spoil an area like Coate?
I am very grateful to the likes of Jean Saunders for putting so much effort forward for the people of Swindon etc.
Unlike councillors and developers, she receives no salary for all her hard work and dedication. I don't care if she lives in Timbuctoo
Shame on greedy councillors, developers and planners for their devious schemes
Jean Saunders lives in Faringdon and doesn't even pay council tax to the borough of Swindon. Go back to Oxfordshire Jean, and stop interfering with this town.
Why spoil an area like Coate?
I am very grateful to the likes of Jean Saunders for putting so much effort forward for the people of Swindon etc.
Unlike councillors and developers, she receives no salary for all her hard work and dedication. I don't care if she lives in Timbuctoo
Shame on greedy councillors, developers and planners for their devious schemes
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