ELECTION COUNTDOWN: Old Town

THE controversial Croft school saga is dominating the political agenda in Old Town, which is the most contested ward in the local elections.

Old Town is breaking its old partnership with Lawn to form a new ward, which comprises all of Old Town south of Bath Road, plus Croft and East Wichel.

The ward looks set to be a key battlefield for parties and independents, with 14 candidates standing for just three seats.

Part of this interest is thought to stem from Swindon Council’s decision to build a primary school for up to 420 children next to the Croft Sports Centre, off Marlborough Lane.

The final approval followed a heated campaign by residents, who said the move would cause traffic chaos and would not serve pupils in the local area.

They also claimed the consultation was inadequate, that the council did not listen to their concerns, and did not answer their questions Carole Bent, who has lived in Marlborough Lane, the school’s proposed across route, for 17 years, said: “I think the school will be in people’s minds when voting.

“I think people will look at it and ask what kind of process exists here, and who do they feel that they can trust in the future.

“I think it’s a main issue because it’s not just about a school, it’s about the process and the way people were treated and the fact we were told it was open and transparent when it felt so far from that.”

Carole said she also wanted the new councillors to work to find a viable use for all or part of the Locarno, in the High Street, following the recent application to knock it down.

She said: “It is an example of something of beauty in the build environment and there should be some way of preserving at least some of it.”

Colin Doubleday, the chairman of Pipers Area Residents’ Association, who lives in Winifred Street, said he hoped voters would select three councillors who are committed to local consultation and open discussion on all matters from the start, and take on board the wishes of the community.

“We’re completely against the Croft School. We think it should be completely reconsidered and they should put it off for a year,” he said.

“They can run a temporary school down at East Wichel and they should completely start again and reconsider how it’s going to affect the local area.”

Reg Bates, 59, who has lived in Riverdale Walk for 16 years, said he wanted the new councillors to listen more to the views of residents, rather than officers, and look for alternative sites for the school.

In other issues, Reg said there had been an increase in drink-fuelled crime and anti-social behaviour in Old Town, pointing out that he had been attacked by a drunken thug in Victoria Road.

He said: “I would like my councillors to engage with the police about the anti-social behaviour in Old Town and get the police to police the area properly.

“Even if it means PCSOs, which don’t have any powers of arrest, but a police presence should be in the Old Town area from 11pm, particularly on Saturday nights, possibly on Friday nights as well.”

Residents clash with council

CAMPAIGNERS and Swindon Council have repeatedly locked horns over the project to build a primary school at Croft. Swindon Council is currently building the school for up to 420 children, next to the Croft Sports Centre, off Marlborough Lane, with the aim of it opening by September. The go-ahead for the project followed a campaign by residents, who said the move would cause traffic chaos and would not serve pupils in the local area. They also claimed the consultation was inadequate, that the council did not listen to their concerns, and did not answer their questions. Swindon Council has maintained there is a severe shortage of reception places in the Old Town area, and the highways arrangements are ‘safe and suitable’, subject to mitigations. Officers and senior councillors have also claimed that the consultation has been far beyond that for other proposed primary schools in recent years. In November, more than 100 people, mostly Croft residents, packed into the Civic Offices to raise their concerns during the three-and-a-half-hour meeting of the planning committee, which eventually approved the plans. Swindon Council has promised about £500,000 in highway mitigation works at the school site, including £100,000 ring-fenced for seven years to address problems which might arise during the phased increase in pupil numbers. The council also made the proposed mitigations more onerous, adding a condition that all footpaths leading up to the school must be a minimum of two metres in width.

Locarno furore

THE debate over what to do about the fire-damaged Locarno building, in the High Street, has been rumbling on for years. But the issue came to a head last month when landowner Gael Mackenzie, submitted an application to Swindon Council, through site developer Steve Rosier, asking permission to demolish the listed building. After 10 years’ trying to secure its future, Mr Rosier said there was no option other than to propose new buildings on the site. He also resubmitted a proposal to turn the building into a hotel. This was rejected by the council last February. The proposed demolition was met with a flurry of opposition. Coun Dave Wood (Lib Dem, Eastcott) started an online petition, which has so far gathered 200 names, calling on the council to work with Mr Mackenzie to find a viable use for the building. Mr Mackenzie said demolition would be the last resort. He said he hoped the plans would be accepted this time. Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe), the chairman of Swindon Council’s planning committee, called for the application to be withdrawn. Mr Rosier has reported the demolition application had had achieved the desired effect, and Swindon Council had contacted him to propose meetings to find a viable solution.

Old Town (three seats)

Candidates for 2012

• Lynda Barber Lib Dem
• Roderick Bluh Conservative
• Kareen Boyd Independent
• Norman Butler Labour
• Terry Davis UKIP
• Paul Dixon Labour
• Noel Gardner UKIP
• Peter Mallinson Conservative
• Brian Mattock Conservative
• David Miles Green
• Tracy Ockley Lib Dem
• John Short UKIP
• Catherine Smith Lib Dem
• Nadine Watts Labour Number of potential voters: 7,279 Most recent turnout figures: Old Town and Lawn (44.39 per cent in 2011) Winner’s majority at last election: Old Town and Lawn (Conservatives with 53 per cent in 2011) Existing councillors: Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn), Fionuala Foley (Con, Old Town and Lawn), Brian Mattock (Con, Old Town and Lawn)