In our endeavour to highlight the major problem of prostitution that blights a number of roads in our area, we arranged a meeting between residents that are particularly affected by this and Chief Superintendent Paul Howlett, Broadgreen NPT beat manager PC Paul Crouch and Richard Palusinski of the Crime and Disorder Team, to see if the problem could be eradicated once and for all. The outcome of the meeting was not exactly what the residents wanted to hear because a quick fix through the judicial system, CS Paul Howlett insisted, would not give us a long-term solution to street prostitution, but by tackling the underlying problem of drug dependency that most of the prostitutes have, along with targeting kerb crawlers and other associated crimes, he was confident that it could be successfully stopped. The Broadgreen Neighbourhood Police Team has already worked extremely hard to substantially reduce the number of ‘girls’ working on the streets.
Three SBC Cabinet Members also spent time in the Broadgreen Area recently. Deputy Leader of the Council Fionuala Foley, Cllr. Brian Mattock and Cllr. Colin Lovell met with a group of residents, walked the area and had a discussion about some of the problems here. We very much appreciate their visit and enjoyed a positive and friendly meeting. All three cabinet members have offered to come back and re-visit us in the near future.
The Community Council has organised a clean up day for the area on Saturday 2nd of August, this is in association with Swindon Council and the Broadgreen Police Team, as this column will probably not be published until after the event, a full report will follow in the September edition.
A couple of weeks ago the Goan Association put on a festival at the County Ground to celebrate their culture. A number of members of the Community Council were invited and had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. So congratulations to all concerned in organising this, their first festival in Swindon, and we look forward to many more.
The next monthly residents meetings are on the 6th August when the Parking Department will be guest speakers and the 3rd September. Meetings start at 7.30 pm at the Broadgreen Centre. There is no charge to attend meetings and all residents in the Broadgreen area are automatically members and are invited to attend.
Tuesday 19 August 2008
MINUTES OF THE BSACC MEETING HELD AT BROADGREEN ON WEDNESDAY 2nd July 2008
PRESENT: Chair person Karen Leakey, Secretary, Kevin Leakey.
ALSO PRESENT:- 12 residents, Holly Huber SBC Community Planner, PCSO’s Stuart Bird and Rees Turner, John Taylor, Councillor’s Derique Montaut and Junab Ali.
ALSO PRESENT:- 12 residents, Holly Huber SBC Community Planner, PCSO’s Stuart Bird and Rees Turner, John Taylor, Councillor’s Derique Montaut and Junab Ali.
BROADLY SPEAKING JUNE 2008
Following on from last year’s Cohesion Event and thanks to a grant from the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, and generous donations from Planet Bollywood and John Taylor MBE, the Community Council were able to put on another highly successful afternoon at the Broadgreen Centre. Officially opened by Swindon Borough Councils Director of Communities Chris Sivers, many people from the area came together and enjoyed an afternoon of top class entertainment in the hall from the Great Western Youth Band and the Charlotte Johnson School of Dance and Musical Theatre.
Once again we were blessed with marvellous weather and in the park we were able to hold not only a cycling safety event, but also Jake the Juggler and his unicycles, juggling clubs and diablo’s amongst other things, for all to try out plus Swindon Town’s Football in the Community team who held a target practice session.
Unfortunately the bouncy castle didn’t turn up, but enthusiasm didn’t wane because the 5-aside football competition, organised by community sports coach Doug Imrie, kept dozens of youngsters entertained in some hard fought battles of skill and determination.
Finishing off with free multi-cultural food, which was enjoyed by young and old alike, community poet Tony Hillier captured this and the whole afternoons events in his own unique style.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who gave up their time in organising and putting on the event and equally all the residents that came along and made it a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
Please note our monthly residents meetings are now held on the first Wednesday of every month in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre, Salisbury Street, 7.30 pm start. Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say about the area, there is no membership charge or fee to attend the monthly meetings and all residents in the Broadgreen area are automatically members and are invited and encouraged to attend. Residents who cannot attend the main meeting or would rather speak privately to a Community Council representative will now have the chance to do so as we will be available between 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm, before our monthly meetings.
Once again we were blessed with marvellous weather and in the park we were able to hold not only a cycling safety event, but also Jake the Juggler and his unicycles, juggling clubs and diablo’s amongst other things, for all to try out plus Swindon Town’s Football in the Community team who held a target practice session.
Unfortunately the bouncy castle didn’t turn up, but enthusiasm didn’t wane because the 5-aside football competition, organised by community sports coach Doug Imrie, kept dozens of youngsters entertained in some hard fought battles of skill and determination.
Finishing off with free multi-cultural food, which was enjoyed by young and old alike, community poet Tony Hillier captured this and the whole afternoons events in his own unique style.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who gave up their time in organising and putting on the event and equally all the residents that came along and made it a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
Please note our monthly residents meetings are now held on the first Wednesday of every month in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre, Salisbury Street, 7.30 pm start. Don’t miss out on your chance to have your say about the area, there is no membership charge or fee to attend the monthly meetings and all residents in the Broadgreen area are automatically members and are invited and encouraged to attend. Residents who cannot attend the main meeting or would rather speak privately to a Community Council representative will now have the chance to do so as we will be available between 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm, before our monthly meetings.
BROADLY SPEAKING JULY 2008
The Broadgreen Centre play park and recreation area is provided for all residents to use and enjoy. Unfortunately there have been a number of worrying reports that people are being made to feel very unwelcome by some of the young people that use the area. We request that parents whose children use the park without adult supervision, make their offspring aware that they should not expect to enjoy exclusive access to the area and that it is there for everyone, no matter who they are.
Following talks between Swindon Borough Council and the Community Council, SBC have agreed to a resident clean up day for the Broadgreen Area and have offered their support. Fly tipping, bin bags and litter only serves to give a negative perception of our area and so we hope residents will be prepared to give up a couple of hours of their time to spruce up the area. You never know, it may encourage other residents to be more considerate to their neighbours and take a bit more pride in the area that we all live in. Further details of date and time will be forthcoming in the near future.
The Broadgreen Community Plan meetings are continuing on the last Saturday of each month. The July meeting will be held on Saturday 26th, in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre and the theme will be Landscape & Open Spaces. All residents from the area are invited to come along and join in.
A number of residents in the area have started Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in their roads. As well as the more obvious benefit of knowing that people are keeping a closer eye on what is going on in the immediate vicinity of their homes, it is also a great way for neighbours to get to know each other a bit better and tackle problems together. The NWS liaison officer is Margaret Anscombe, any residents wishing to start their own scheme can contact Margaret directly on 01793 507864 www.nhw-wilts.org.uk
The next monthly residents meetings are on the 2nd July and the 6th August, 7.30 pm at the Broadgreen Centre. There is no charge to attend meetings and all residents in the Broadgreen area are automatically members and are invited to attend.
Following talks between Swindon Borough Council and the Community Council, SBC have agreed to a resident clean up day for the Broadgreen Area and have offered their support. Fly tipping, bin bags and litter only serves to give a negative perception of our area and so we hope residents will be prepared to give up a couple of hours of their time to spruce up the area. You never know, it may encourage other residents to be more considerate to their neighbours and take a bit more pride in the area that we all live in. Further details of date and time will be forthcoming in the near future.
The Broadgreen Community Plan meetings are continuing on the last Saturday of each month. The July meeting will be held on Saturday 26th, in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre and the theme will be Landscape & Open Spaces. All residents from the area are invited to come along and join in.
A number of residents in the area have started Neighbourhood Watch Schemes in their roads. As well as the more obvious benefit of knowing that people are keeping a closer eye on what is going on in the immediate vicinity of their homes, it is also a great way for neighbours to get to know each other a bit better and tackle problems together. The NWS liaison officer is Margaret Anscombe, any residents wishing to start their own scheme can contact Margaret directly on 01793 507864 www.nhw-wilts.org.uk
The next monthly residents meetings are on the 2nd July and the 6th August, 7.30 pm at the Broadgreen Centre. There is no charge to attend meetings and all residents in the Broadgreen area are automatically members and are invited to attend.
BROADLY SPEAKING MAY 2008
The Broad Street Area Community Council has been representing the residents of the Broadgreen area for over 35 years. In this time the area has seen many changes, and in recent years the biggest change has been the influx of people from all over the globe, making this area the most ethnically diverse area in Swindon and indeed probably Wiltshire. The community council is your local residents association and despite the many changes, remains the one body striving for improvements in this area for everyone. All people living in Broadgreen are automatically members and are welcome to come to our monthly meetings and bring their problems and concerns to the table, so we can continue improving the quality of life for all.
We have re-launched our Broadgreen Community Archive project and are pursuing funding from the lottery. We are looking for a wide participation in this project, encompassing both young and old, male and female and across the spectrum of cultures, in a bid to conserve and enhance our diverse heritage and leave a lasting history for future generations.
You may have noticed that the old fence around the Broadgreen Centre has been removed and is being replaced by shorter looped top fencing, this is part of the final stage of the Streets For Living project and will also include replacement goal posts and a community garden at the Centre.
Please note our monthly residents meetings are now on the first Wednesday of every month, instead of the second Wednesday. They will still be held in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre, 7.30 pm start and all residents in the Broadgreen area are invited and encouraged to attend.
Residents who cannot attend the main meeting or would rather speak privately to a Community Council representative will now have the chance to do so as we will be available between 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm, before our monthly meetings.
We have re-launched our Broadgreen Community Archive project and are pursuing funding from the lottery. We are looking for a wide participation in this project, encompassing both young and old, male and female and across the spectrum of cultures, in a bid to conserve and enhance our diverse heritage and leave a lasting history for future generations.
You may have noticed that the old fence around the Broadgreen Centre has been removed and is being replaced by shorter looped top fencing, this is part of the final stage of the Streets For Living project and will also include replacement goal posts and a community garden at the Centre.
Please note our monthly residents meetings are now on the first Wednesday of every month, instead of the second Wednesday. They will still be held in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre, 7.30 pm start and all residents in the Broadgreen area are invited and encouraged to attend.
Residents who cannot attend the main meeting or would rather speak privately to a Community Council representative will now have the chance to do so as we will be available between 6.00 pm and 7.30 pm, before our monthly meetings.
MINUTES OF THE BSACC MEETING HELD AT BROADGREEN ON WEDNESDAY 2nd April 2008
PRESENT: - Chairperson:- Karen Leakey; Vice Chair & Treasurer: - Richard Coates;
Secretary: - Kevin Leakey; Minute Secretary: - John Phillips;
ALSO PRESENT:- 10 residents, Ward Cllr. Derique Montaut; Holly Huber; Ray Aldridge, Canal Trust.
Secretary: - Kevin Leakey; Minute Secretary: - John Phillips;
ALSO PRESENT:- 10 residents, Ward Cllr. Derique Montaut; Holly Huber; Ray Aldridge, Canal Trust.
BROADLY SPEAKING APRIL 2008
Last year the Community Council put on a really successful Cohesion Event at the Broadgreen Centre, and once again, thanks to a grant from the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, on Saturday the 26th of April between 2 and 6 pm we are having another one and all residents of the Broadgreen Area are invited to come along, join in and mix with each other.
This year in the main hall, as well as entertainment and an under 10’s fancy dress competition, there will be displays promoting the Community Plan that residents are working towards, with different departments from the Council available to talk to residents about associated problems and ideas. With such a big interest being shown about the possibility of a new canal in the centre of Swindon, the Canal Trust will also have a stand and they will be able to explain the plans first hand and answer any questions and concerns. Outside, there will be another 5-aside football tournament as well as children’s sports and tug of war. The afternoon will finish with a free multi-cultural food event. Look out for leaflets with full details of the event.
The next Community Plan meeting will be about transport and movement, this will take place on the morning of the Cohesion Event, 26th April, in the Lounge at the Broadgreen Centre between 10 am and midday. Open to all Broadgreen residents, we encourage everybody who has an interest in the future direction of this area to come along have their say, after all would people prefer the Broadgreen’s future to be lead by ourselves, the residents, or people from outside the area with their own agenda’s?
Please note, from April onwards, our monthly residents meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of every month, instead of the second Wednesday. They will still be held in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre, 7.30 pm start, all residents in the Broadgreen area are invited and encouraged to attend.
This year in the main hall, as well as entertainment and an under 10’s fancy dress competition, there will be displays promoting the Community Plan that residents are working towards, with different departments from the Council available to talk to residents about associated problems and ideas. With such a big interest being shown about the possibility of a new canal in the centre of Swindon, the Canal Trust will also have a stand and they will be able to explain the plans first hand and answer any questions and concerns. Outside, there will be another 5-aside football tournament as well as children’s sports and tug of war. The afternoon will finish with a free multi-cultural food event. Look out for leaflets with full details of the event.
The next Community Plan meeting will be about transport and movement, this will take place on the morning of the Cohesion Event, 26th April, in the Lounge at the Broadgreen Centre between 10 am and midday. Open to all Broadgreen residents, we encourage everybody who has an interest in the future direction of this area to come along have their say, after all would people prefer the Broadgreen’s future to be lead by ourselves, the residents, or people from outside the area with their own agenda’s?
Please note, from April onwards, our monthly residents meetings will be held on the first Wednesday of every month, instead of the second Wednesday. They will still be held in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre, 7.30 pm start, all residents in the Broadgreen area are invited and encouraged to attend.
BROADLY SPEAKING MARCH 2008
There will be no Saturday meeting in March for the Broadgreen Community Plan, however on Saturday the 29th of March, 10 am to 12 noon, there will be a final celebration to mark the end of the Streets for Living project. A parade through the four streets will be followed by a marching display by the Britannia Majorettes. Then at 11 am in the main hall there will be a band concert by the Great Western Youth Brass Band who will be joined by a singing group from the Swindon Youth Service. Refreshments will be available and all Broadgreen residents are welcome.
On Saturday 26 April we will once again be putting on a Cohesion event at the Broadgreen Centre. Having obtained some of the funding for this from the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, to which we are extremely grateful, we were hoping that the rest would come from SBC’s Grassroots grant, especially as the first priority for eligibility was for Community Festivals: ‘The Council wishes to fund projects or activities that fund festivals in local neighbourhoods or that celebrate the diversity of local communities of interest & identity’.
Unfortunately despite ticking the boxes and putting on such a successful event last year, bringing together as it did, many different diverse areas of the community in an afternoon of fun, food and sports, the powers that be decided that as there were more applications than funding available, organisations which had not previously received any sort funding from the council should take priority, so we were deemed to be one of 5 applications out of 35 to be unsuccessful. However, we will not be beaten that easily and private donations have assisted in the funding of this years event.
Our monthly residents meeting is held in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre on the second Wednesday of every
On Saturday 26 April we will once again be putting on a Cohesion event at the Broadgreen Centre. Having obtained some of the funding for this from the Wiltshire and Swindon Community Foundation, to which we are extremely grateful, we were hoping that the rest would come from SBC’s Grassroots grant, especially as the first priority for eligibility was for Community Festivals: ‘The Council wishes to fund projects or activities that fund festivals in local neighbourhoods or that celebrate the diversity of local communities of interest & identity’.
Unfortunately despite ticking the boxes and putting on such a successful event last year, bringing together as it did, many different diverse areas of the community in an afternoon of fun, food and sports, the powers that be decided that as there were more applications than funding available, organisations which had not previously received any sort funding from the council should take priority, so we were deemed to be one of 5 applications out of 35 to be unsuccessful. However, we will not be beaten that easily and private donations have assisted in the funding of this years event.
Our monthly residents meeting is held in the lounge at the Broadgreen Centre on the second Wednesday of every
BROADLY SPEAKING FEBRUARY 2008
The first public meeting looking at resident’s views on the content of our Broadgreen Community Plan took place on Saturday 26th January. If you have any views or comments about the future direction of this area, want to find out what it is all about or simply wish to socialise, then please come along to a future meeting. They will hopefully be held on the last Saturday of each month at the Broadgreen Centre in Salisbury Street. We are optimistic that these meetings, which are open to all Broadgreen residents, will be well supported and become a monthly feature in people’s diaries.
A decision on the planning appeal for the George Whites site in Manchester Road has now been made. Despite the planning committee turning the plans down on a number of points, the planning inspector didn’t agree and has now given permission for the site to be demolished, and in its place a 3 and 4 storey flat complex to be built. The 4 storey building on the corner with Corporation Street was deemed as an “appropriate feature, marking this prominent ‘gateway’ in a satisfactory manner”! No provision for affordable housing need be included in the redevelopment and 24 off road parking spaces will be included. With a precedent having now been set for taller buildings on a corner junction, we now have to sit tight and see if any other owners of prominent corner properties fancy following suit.
Whilst on the subject of planning, the owners of the old laundry site in Aylesbury Street recently had their planning application turned down and are now looking at ways to alter the proposed building to be more sympathetic to the surrounding 2 storey homes. They hope that a new plan can be put forward that will be more acceptable to all and one that will gain planning permission.
A decision on the planning appeal for the George Whites site in Manchester Road has now been made. Despite the planning committee turning the plans down on a number of points, the planning inspector didn’t agree and has now given permission for the site to be demolished, and in its place a 3 and 4 storey flat complex to be built. The 4 storey building on the corner with Corporation Street was deemed as an “appropriate feature, marking this prominent ‘gateway’ in a satisfactory manner”! No provision for affordable housing need be included in the redevelopment and 24 off road parking spaces will be included. With a precedent having now been set for taller buildings on a corner junction, we now have to sit tight and see if any other owners of prominent corner properties fancy following suit.
Whilst on the subject of planning, the owners of the old laundry site in Aylesbury Street recently had their planning application turned down and are now looking at ways to alter the proposed building to be more sympathetic to the surrounding 2 storey homes. They hope that a new plan can be put forward that will be more acceptable to all and one that will gain planning permission.
BROADLY SPEAKING JANUARY 2008
Firstly we would like to wish you all a happy new year and hope you enjoyed the Christmas break.
A Broadgreen Strategy, led by the Community Council, giving SBC and other bodies guidance and a clear direction on the way residents wish to see the area develop, is going to be implemented in our area within the next 18 months or so. For this to be successful, all residents will have the opportunity to input their ideas towards a document covering a wide range of issues. Broadgreen will be the first area outside of the Parishes to plan and achieve this.
At the December planning committee meeting the proposed plans for a 6-storey 72-apartment development on the former laundry site in Aylesbury Street was deferred until January. Although the plans had been slightly revised, they were basically the same. Amongst the concerns raised by a number of the committee were the size and design of the proposals and 106 contributions. As a community we should be very concerned about the creeping in of over bearing multi storey developments into what is a terraced area. Comments on the proposals by Thames Water were also rather alarming. They have concerns that the sewage system in Central Swindon is at capacity now and new developments will make it worse i.e. sewage flooding and an adverse environmental impact on the community.
On the 15th January between 7.30-9.30pm the Community Council are holding an informal drop in evening at the Broadgreen Centre Main Hall in Gladstone St. if you are interested in becoming more involved in community issues or just want to pop in and socialise then please feel free to do so, there will be free refreshments available. Also attending will be Forward Planning Officers from Swindon Council regarding the Central Area Action plan, a Community Planner who will be able to tell you more about the Broadgreen Strategy, Voluntary Action and the Broadgreen Police team.
A Broadgreen Strategy, led by the Community Council, giving SBC and other bodies guidance and a clear direction on the way residents wish to see the area develop, is going to be implemented in our area within the next 18 months or so. For this to be successful, all residents will have the opportunity to input their ideas towards a document covering a wide range of issues. Broadgreen will be the first area outside of the Parishes to plan and achieve this.
At the December planning committee meeting the proposed plans for a 6-storey 72-apartment development on the former laundry site in Aylesbury Street was deferred until January. Although the plans had been slightly revised, they were basically the same. Amongst the concerns raised by a number of the committee were the size and design of the proposals and 106 contributions. As a community we should be very concerned about the creeping in of over bearing multi storey developments into what is a terraced area. Comments on the proposals by Thames Water were also rather alarming. They have concerns that the sewage system in Central Swindon is at capacity now and new developments will make it worse i.e. sewage flooding and an adverse environmental impact on the community.
On the 15th January between 7.30-9.30pm the Community Council are holding an informal drop in evening at the Broadgreen Centre Main Hall in Gladstone St. if you are interested in becoming more involved in community issues or just want to pop in and socialise then please feel free to do so, there will be free refreshments available. Also attending will be Forward Planning Officers from Swindon Council regarding the Central Area Action plan, a Community Planner who will be able to tell you more about the Broadgreen Strategy, Voluntary Action and the Broadgreen Police team.
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