What will be built on bus depot land?

THE Stagecoach bus depot site and the Regent Circus redevelopment are at the top of the list of concerns for residents in the new Eastcott ward.

The ward has the same name as an existing ward but its boundaries have changed and it now encompasses the business area of Old Town, as well as some of Kingshill.

Stuart Hibbert, 43, who has lived in South Street for about eight years, said one of the key issues was what might replace the Stagecoach bus depot. Stagecoach has submitted an application to Swindon Council to build a replacement depot at Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.

Mr Hibbert said: “A lot of people would like it to be used in terms of expansion of King William Street School. There’s a few school places they’re looking for over the next few years so that would be fantastic for the council to consider expanding King William Street School.

“There’s quite a lot of school places that are going to be needed in the local area and that’s something that’s going to be needed in the local area and that’s something that’s going to be in the forefront of people’s minds.”

Mr Hibbert said the council was consulting on plans to transfer the running of Savernake Street Social Hall to the community, but he wanted reassurances that it was not all just about saving money.

He said: “It needs to be able to turn a profit. That’s the crux of it. It needs to be able to return a profit so at least it can invest in its own facilities going forward.”

Mr Hibbert also said he wanted the new councillors to fight to ensure that the leisure complex to be built on the site of the former Swindon College, at Regent Circus, would not cause problems for residents, such as increased noise, reduced parking, or a rat run along Eastcott Hill.

Toby Robson, 41, who has lived in Prospect Hill for about 12 years, added: “Everyone wants to see the college come down but people also want to make sure the infrastructure to support the facility and all the extra traffic and footfall are in place.”

Mr Robson said he also wanted the new councillors to monitor the level of crime and disorder in the area after the planned opening of the new Tiger Bills nightclub, in Hooper’s Place, which has a 6am licence standing from the Studio nightclub.

Eastcott

(3 seats)

Candidates for 2012:

  • Emma Bushell, Labour
  • Valerie Butt, Conservative
  • Emma Carter, Conservative
  • Bill Hughes, Green
  • Bruce Kingstree, Conservative
  • Andy Newman, Labour
  • Stan Pajak, Lib Dem
  • Nicky Sewell, Lib Dem
  • Chris Watts, Labour
  • Dave Wood, Lib Dem Number of potential voters in new ward: 7,945 Most recent turnout figures: 38.15 per cent in 2011 Winner’s majority at last election: Lib Dems with 39 per cent Existing councillors: Stan Pajak (Lib Dem), Nicky Sewell (Lib Dem), Dave Wood (Lib Dem)

Keep the lorries away from here

HEAVY goods vehicles, anti-social behaviour and youth facilities are among the issues the new candidates for the Covingham and Dorcan ward will have to tackle.

The new ward includes Covingham, Dorcan Industrial Estate and the vast majority of Liden, detaching Liden from its current partnership with Eldene.

In Covingham, Brian Osborne, chairman of Covingham Parish Council, which is non-party-political, said the biggest concern was the increase in lorries cutting through Merlin Way to the industrial estate.

He said: “We have got people saying now that their homes are actually vibrating. We would like to see a weight limit or something there to stop these lorries going down Merlin Way.

“They should be using Oxford Road but of course these guys are coming off the A419 with their sat navs and it’s telling them to turn left and they’re going down Merlin Way.”

He said two other priorities for new councillors should be to step-up enforcement on fog fouling and to reduce anti-social behaviour in Covingham.

He said: “A lot of residents fear anti-social behaviour from youngsters. We started to suffer a bit from it around our parks and it was late-night drinking from youngsters in the parks as well.

“With late-night drinkers, of course, the older generation are a bit worried when they take their dogs for a walk when there are groups of young people hanging about.”

In Liden, resident Shirley Ludford, who has lived in Tryon Close for 22 years, said she wanted the new councillors to fight for more activities for young people and for improved bus services.

Shirley, who is also the station manager at community radio station Swindon 105.5, said: “I would like to see how we could have more activities for young people. I am sure we could have more activities and opportunities for young people in the area.

“I know there have been some issues in recent times with young people and I think often it’s down to perception. If we can have a big range of activities to engage young people in an area like east Swindon, that would be a positive move.

“The bus services are generally good in the week but at evenings and weekends the bus services could be improved so young people could get to town and back.”

Covingham & Dorcan

(3 seats)

Candidates for 2012:

  • Pamela Adams, Labour
  • Corinna Allen, UKIP
  • Dale Heenan, Conservative
  • Clive Hooper, Lib Dem
  • Richard Hurley, Conservative
  • Kevin Parry, Conservative
  • Julian Price, Labour
  • Brett Sparkes, Labour Number of potential voters in new ward: 8,834 Most recent turnout figures: Covingham and Nythe (44.32 per cent in 2011), Dorcan (43.38 in 2011) Winner’s majority at last election: Covingham and Nythe (Conservatives with 43 per cent of the vote), Dorcan (Conservatives with 47 per cent of the vote) Existing councillors: Emma Faramarzi (Con, Covingham and Nythe), Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe), Richard Hurley (Con, Covingham and Nythe), Andy Albinson (Con, Dorcan), Roderick Bluh (Con, Dorcan), Kevin Parry (Con, Dorcan)