Secretary: - Kevin Leakey; Minute Secretary: - John Phillips;
ALSO PRESENT:- 10 residents, Ward Cllr. Derique Montaut; Holly Huber; Ray Aldridge, Canal Trust.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:- 10 residents.
John Phillips asked to speak to the meeting before starting the meeting proper. Because of recent factions from people outside the Community Council and from some Leaders of the Community, John wished to propose a Vote of Confidence in the Chair, Karen Leaky. Derek Sutton seconded the proposal and all those present showed their full support for the Chair.
John thanked the meeting for their support and said hopefully we will be able to do something about the problem and quickly move on.
Cllr. Derique Montaut asked if he could be told what this was about. Karen responded that she was completely unaware that John was going to ask the meeting for this Vote of Confidence and moved on to welcome everyone to tonight's meeting.
CONFIRMATION OF THE MINUTES of 12th March 2008.
These Minutes were confirmed and signed a true record. Proposed Mrs. Celia Cotton and seconded by Mr. Derek Sutton.
Karen, with the help of Ishmael explained that for a while now, the representatives of Bond have been acting outside the original concept laid down by the Joseph Rowntree Trust. The Trust granted monies to produce a multi lingual newsletter aimed to bring all the peoples of the area together. It was hoped to achieve this goal at the end of a three-year period. After the three years the balance of the monies was taken over by BOND, as we now know.
The Ward Councillor said he had concerns, in the short time he has known and worked with the CC he could and has only complemented the Chair and the members of the CC and the wider community would lose out if it lost the CC. This was not the way forward. To have fractions within the community, he would be very disappointed. Derique offered his support if it was needed.
After some discussion it was decided to call BOND around the table with Officers of the CC with an independent Chair.
MATTERS ARISING: - There were no matters arising.
GUEST SPEAKERS:- The Canal Trust spokesman Ray Aldridge said there were many misconceptions with regards to the proposed canal through Swindon Town Centre.
Six years ago it was decided to reopen the canal from between Trowbridge and Abingdon passing through Swindon. The entrance to part of the canal has already been opened at Abingdon with the help of many agencies making this possible.
Originally the proposed canal would have been from the bottom of Kingshill to Farnsby Street and Canal Walk, Fleming Way to the Magic Roundabout and on behind Shrivenham Road to Greenbridge and on to Acorn Bridge.
The Canal would also branch off at a point near John's Street and then under the railway following its original route towards Cricklade, making for a very favoured circular route for the boats from as far away as the midlands.
There is no doubt whatsoever that the canal will be built. Not with anyone's money but European and government grants. The question is does it go through the town or around the town.
Having walked the route six years ago there was no problem with the then proposed route but Swindon Council sold off the town Centre and the regeneration and new owners did not approve of the canal through the town centre.
One year ago Swindon Borough Council invited the Trust to once again think of going through the town centre but three new buildings have appeared on top of the route. The Borough, not the Trust, then decided that they were going to close Westcott Place and could the Trust use that as a route through town. It is not the canal closing roads it is the Swindon Borough council.
Ray answered many questions, on flooding rubbish drunks etc.
Brunel's railway made canals redundant. Today there is a huge demand for recreational use and some industrial use of a canal. More money about and a lot more leisure time. There is a huge demand for berths, on existing old and new canals they are at a premium, perhaps £5,000 /year each boat. Yes it will cost billions to build but potential income is enormous.
Ray closed by asking people to visit the shop in Theatre Square, which is open Friday and Saturday 10.00 to 4. 00pm.
- CORRESPONDENCE:-
Final Consultation notice re Wilts & Swindon Waste & Mineral Core Strategies ends May 14th 2008. - Consultation notice re Preferred Options Paper, Swindon Core Strategy, ends 12 May 2008. Will be Guest Speakers at May's Community Council Meeting.
- Details & application form for this Community Council to join the Swindon Federation of Community Organisations has been completed & returned.
- Again a fish problem at 7 to 11 shop in Broad Street has been reported and is being dealt with by Steve Harcourt.
- Mark Feeny has been contacted re Cohesion funding. Awaiting a reply.
1. S/ADV/08/0153. Former Red-Star Delivery/Collection Office, Signal Point, Station Road. Display of temporary banners (Retrospective). Application Refused.
2. S/08/0542. 48 Manchester Road. Conversion of dwelling into ground floor shop and 1 no.flat, including erection of single storey front/rear extensions. Application pending Consideration.
3. S/08/0 196. 64 Manchester Road. Change of use of ground floor from shop (Class AI) to shop & restaurant (Class AI/B) (Retrospective). Application Granted.
4. S/08/0105. 133/135 Manchester Road. Erection offront canopy. Application Granted. 5. S/08/0204. 123 Manchester Road. Erection of an outbuilding. Application granted.
6. S/08/0165. 125 Manchester Road. Change of use from outbuilding to Gents Hair Salon extension to Rage salon to front. Application Granted.
A planning appeal was successful in 2002 concerning the change of use of 125 Manchester Road to retail unit & flats. Permission was given, but a condition was imposed stating that the garage should be used for no other purpose than parking if vehicles in connection with the residential development. These proposals conflict this condition. Quote. The garage at 125 Manchester Road, Swindon shall be used for no other purpose other than the parking of vehicles in connection with the residential development hereby permitted.
SHRIVENHAM ROAD & COCKRAM COURT REPORT:-
Shrivenham Road residents were still concerned with prostitutes and drug abusers using the back way between the houses and the County Ground extension. Derek said that new police policy was they had to do what the local resident wanted. Karen said at the Broad green Tasking Group held this morning 5 new street prostitutes were cautioned and one prostitute and a kerb crawler have been arrested and charged with' outraging public decency' offence. Swindon police are to liaise with the Bristol Force who are using different techniques.
On drugs the police have been pro active for four weeks with two cannabis factories closed and three homes raided. And ten suspects horn the Hackney area of London being caught supplying. There are ongoing issues with the bottom flat of a house in Broad Street.
Heavy lorries are still entering Shrivenham Road from the Magic Roundabout due to Sat. Nav. errors. The pavement! path at the side of the cycle shop in Shrivenham Road is strewn with dead branches and is an accident waiting to happen.
CHAIRS REPORT:-
The BSACC 'Cohesion' Day. Earlier tonight a cheque for £401 was handed over from the monies raised at the Bollywood India Ltd. event held a few weeks ago. The treasurer, Richard, said that if any monies from this cheque were left over after this year's event, he would allot it to next year's event.
Asked about the Bottle Bank monies, Karen said that a letter had been received stating that this was being investigated. With the change in personnel and general policy this income had stopped.
On the Youth of the area, there have been 2 football matches played between the young Asians and young Goan people. Future match's will between young Asian men and a Police team and at a later date against Greenmeadow.
STFC have been involved with a Bangladeshi youth group and there may be some kit available
The police have been active in the area, each car that pass's through is monitored with the recently installed cameras. This coming weekend will see a lot of activity.
It was reported that Wendy our street cleaner has been unwell for several weeks. A letter wishing her well is to be forwarded to those concerned.
On the waste problem and the increase in the sighting of rats and the stench from long standing kitchen waste, Steve Harcourt is to investigate. The issues of fly tipping and business waste have to be tackled.
Holly was asked to speak on the Forward Planning Strategy and asked for people to attend meetings on April 9th 11.00 to 1.00pm at Broad green. Future meeting will have to reach the wider community, which will be on the more important issues. There will be a free guided tour of Queens Park on 23 rd June. The organisers would love some old photographs taken in the park.
WARD COUNCILLORS REPORT:-
Cllr Derek Montaut spoke of a meeting to discuss the old Paragon Laundry site on Monday 7th April at 6.30pm in Broadgreen.
On Wheelie Bins and waste in general Derique said there had to be a blitz on traders and their rubbish, some of the bags being carried half a mile.
Swindon Town Football Club is looking towards working with the Community in the very near future. The Cllr. spoke of development closing in on all sides and the need for buffers.
Public Art was still ongoing for the area, some within S4L but mostly the area in general.
At the S4L event last Saturday the Mayor had said that the project had finished at the end of the three years. Derek Sutton said quite forcefully that No this was not the end. It was the start of a new era for the area in general, and we should start pushing the Borough for the rest of the area to be updated. Derique said it may not happen today, but look forward to tomorrow. We can however look forward to a new community garden being sanctioned on 26th April 2008.
The Cllr. said of the closure of many of the play areas in town which was due to insurance claims
POLICE REPORT:-
There were no police officers present to make a report.
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH REPORT:- No report
STREET WATCH REPORT:-No report
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:- Huge lorries reversing into Alfred Street from Broad Street to deliver to a garage at the rear of the end house of Broad Street, which is supposedly residential.
The parking in Manchester Road is no better particularly at bus stops.
Was there going to be Friday Night Football at the County Ground? No.
The private bus picking up and dropping of workers in County Road is ongoing. When this problem occurred in Manchester Road it took about six weeks to clear.
Meeting closed at 9.35pm.
THE DATE OF NEXT MEETING:- WED. 7th MAY 2008
