Letter from Brian Burrows (From Swindon Advertiser)

Letter from Brian Burrows

12:23pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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REFERENCE New Generation Strategy is Backed SA, March 12, p7.

When Swindon Borough Council became a unity authority many years ago they had an opportunity to develop Swindon but spent time and money on how good Swindon would be in the future with no plans on how this would happen. Much of this money was spent on glossy brochures promoting how to get city status for Swindon when the overall image was poor. The central library was in a temporary building and the Mechanics’ and Locarno buildings were in poor condition and still are and need to be restored.

The development in West Swindon was seen as satisfactory but Abbey Meads was of the worst housing developments I have seen. There is also concern about building on Wichelstowe as the houses are very close to each other with the result there is very little green space. Also many are built near the motorway. They are not built on the flood plain but are near it. It also seems likely that further development will not take place for many years to complete this project due to the recession.

This is why we are concerned about the comments from the housing minister about this development could result in city status and the response from some councillors who agree with these comments.

What is needed are plans to get us out of this recession and as inward investment has greatly declined and the answer is home-grown jobs based on small business, the self-employed and virtual companies that trade as small companies but work from home using the growing use of communication developments. This is an age of the e-business entrepreneur and talking to some of the college students the talent is here and needs to be encouraged.

What is of concern is how out of date the housing minister is. What he should be doing is insisting that 90 per cent of houses are low cost so people can get onto the housing market. Some of the recent houses built by the local council reflect a local style unlike national builders where the houses all look the same all over the country.

The setting up of a five year regeneration plan is most welcome with Rod Bluh’s comments that this should have happened 10 years ago is correct. This is an area in which Swindon Civic Trust would like to be involved.

BRIAN BURROWS

Bath Road

Old Town

Swindon