I WAS pleased to hear that Taylor Wimpey have withdrawn their planning application to build 48 houses in Lydiard. 

I objected to these proposals along with local residents, community groups and heritage groups because they were wholly inappropriate due to the historic setting of Lydiard House and St Mary’s Church. 

These plans were also outside Wiltshire’s Local Plan. 

Not only is this decision good news for Lydiard House and Country Park, it shows that the community can make a real difference.

Moving on to other local issues, I was thrilled to hear that contracts have been signed which will see the Corn Exchange and old town hall buildings restored as part of a £35m regeneration project. 

The beautiful Grade II-listed building, which is owned by Swindon Corn Exchange Ltd, has spent years in the early planning stages and I have spoken to many local residents over the years who are incredibly passionate about protecting the historic building. 

I am pleased to learn that the project is now in a position to move forward and the Corn Exchange will finally become the heartbeat of Old Town.

On Thursday evening I was delighted to be asked to speak at The Dorcan Academy Year 11 Leavers Presentation Assembly, an event that I thoroughly enjoyed.

 I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the former pupils the very best of luck as they move onto the next stage of their lives. 

Continuing on the subject of local schools, I recently held a meeting with the Regional Schools Commissioner in Swindon, together with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson to raise issues from the Ofsted letter that I wrote about in last week’s article. 

It was a positive and productive meeting and will lead on to further action from all those who have responsibility for local education.

Last week was National Anti-Bullying Week, a time to shine a spotlight on bullying and encourage anyone who is experiencing bullying to take action. 

I was pleased when the Government recently announced that a £4.4m fund will be used to back projects including ‘Tootoot’ - an online platform providing 24-hour support to young people who are victims of bullying or online abuse. 

An online app that lets children report bullying using screenshots of social media will also be rolled out to hundreds of schools. 

Cyberbullying using social networks, games and mobile phones is an increasingly common form of bullying and I am pleased that the Conservative

Government is taking positive action to help combat it.

Speaking of local charities, I was delighted to present a cheque to the Brighter Futures Appeal recently for £20,000 on behalf of Martin Wilson who is the managing director of a Swindon- based demolition and licensed asbestos removal company. 

Martin, who is also the president of the  National Federation Of Demolition Contractors, raised £20,000 along with fellow members of the NFDC by holding a charity raffle and asking for member donations.

I would like to thank the team at the NFDC for all of their hard work and for choosing to fundraise for the Great Western Hospital’s Brighter Futures Appeal, as it is an appeal which is very close to my heart.

I have been in contact with many residents and local swimming groups who are concerned about the future of the Health Hydro. 

I am wholly sympathetic to the concerns that have been raised over this much-loved facility. 

I have been in contact with GLL, the charitable social enterprise that operates the Health Hydro and I will continue to work closely with local residents and swimming groups over the coming months and do all that I can to secure the long-term future of the Health Hydro.