ANY bird with a brain, flying over the land referred to as the EDA would quickly realize that, short of a ‘spaghetti junction’ over the A419 marks the practical limit of sustainable development on the east side of Swindon.

The mooted ‘couple of green bridges’ (whatever they are?) could only serve to increase the daily bottlenecking in areas such as Stratton, Covingham, Nythe, Dorcan and the Commonhead roundabout. The major roads either side of the A419 and the A419 itself, can barely cope with current traffic levels. The proposed ‘green bridges’ from the EDA over the A419 would create ‘rat runs’ as experienced by the people in Queensfield, where residents often find getting out of their own drive a nightmare.

Logistically, the A419 forms part of the northwest corridor for UK traffic, even without the EDA this traffic is likely to increase in the coming years. SBC made a big mistake building houses too close to the western side of the A419 which required a noise attenuation barrier along the verge. Additional traffic noise from the A419, and the proposed EDA, would affect any homes built on the EDA. The noise would be a very specific intrusion on the environment and, together with the CO2 pollution, will seriously detract from the quality of life to those who live there.

Local people know all too well that the rivers and streams are critical elements in safeguarding the area from flooding. The proposed EDA will build on the flood plains and reduce their soak up capacity, thus creating major flood risks for Stratton, Nythe and Covingham. As a flood prevention measure Thames Water built huge flood tanks to hold storm water. These measures are dependent on the free flow of storm water downstream, and the soak up capacity of the area is key to this protection. Any building on these flood plains will reduce this soak up capacity and put more rainwater directly into the rivers taking up river flow capacity. As we have seen recently, these rivers are often at, or even over capacity. The developers are well aware of these risks and plan open areas for floodwater! Who will insure building in this area? What about the casualties? Who will take the blame? Not the developers, ‘it will not be their problem!’ People in the Stratton, Nythe and Covingham areas have heard it all before!

Swindon already has major developments in progress to the north, south and west of the town; let’s finish them off first!

MIKE SPRY

Mayfield Close

Nythe Swindon