Your Comments - Against

From : Niki Jones - 26 March 2004

I live in Peatmoor and before that Sparcells and have been looking forward to the completion of the new forest for years. Myself and the children have regularly attended tree planting sessions.

I find it incredible that having spent all that time and money to create a peaceful and environmentally friendly area that the council and Swindon Town want to put a carbuncle of a stadium there.

I have supported Swindon for 16 years and have attended hundreds of games, my two sons have season tickets and would love to have a new stadium.

Reading have a lovely ground just off the M4 and easy to get to. At this very moment we have circus just below Sparcell have you seen the traffic problems that's coursing us I hate to think of the problems we would have with a 22000 seater stadium

Let Swindon have there stadium but lets think about the right place to put it.



From : Becky Saunders - 26 March 2004

My name is Becky and I am writing to you about this football stadium.

When I first heard about it I was disgraced about building it on Shaw Tip because near there is a back track which I love walking cycling down. I bet lots of other people do too.

If the stadium is built it will be horrible. The peace and quiet will be destroyed when football matches are on. Where you want to build it was always meant to be Shaw woodlands.

Swindon Town will ruin our neighbourhood with so many cars, it is a really nice place to live at the moment. What about the animals? The stadium will ruin their homes. They live there and I bet you won't like it if some one just came and dug up your home would you? I really think it is a really bad idea.

So think before you do anything stupid.



From : Fiona Prinzi, Webbs Wood, Peatmoor - 26 March 2004

Will this stadium benefit us? Will an alternative road make any difference to traffic? A resounding NO from anyone I have spoken to about this intolerable idea of a football stadium, driven by the colour of money.

Will the Woodlands Edge pub become a watering hole for football fans? Will noise, cars and added pollution make our lives in Peatmoor and surrounding areas a misery? ABSOLUTELY.

We made the choice to live in Peatmoor 11 years ago because our lifestyle in Swindon town centre was compromised by overspill from the County Ground. I urge anyone to do whatever they can to make their views clear and to stop this from progressing any further.

The Cellular Operations building is now an eyesore, despite all the promises made by the developers at the time. Don't allow our environment to be ruined further, for the sake of another money-making project in Swindon which has no regard for the people who live here. What can we do to stop this?



From : Paul Bissell - 29 March 2004

Whilst I am in favour of sports facilities in the community being of the highest standard and appreciate the antiquated nature of the Swindon Town ground, I find the choice of venue hard to believe.

As a resident of Peatmoor, I suspect that my reaction was similar to many residents. Why on earth did anyone propose building a stadium on the future Shaw Forest Country Park? It is not near the rail or bus stations or the motorway for those travelling to the venue from outside of Swindon. In fact, as residents know, the road system struggles to cope with the relatively small amount of residential traffic at peak times, let alone large influxes of supporters and visitors.

I understand that road improvements are planned, but again that gives rise to concerns. Anything short of major arterial roads (dual or triple carriageways) plus bus and rail links is likely to be ineffective. Which leads us to the main problem. This is a quiet and established residential area. I can't imagine anyone who lives in Shaw, Nine Elms, Peatmoor, Sparcells or any of the nearby neighbourhoods, would honestly welcome the this stadium. It's not that I would object to the enhanced sports facilities, I object to the impact on homes and lives by everyone in the region using it.

We have recently had to put up with the inept and ugly architecture of the extra storage warehouses at Hillmead, don't compound the problem by taking away the Country Park that has been promised for such a long time.

Finally, I understand that this plan stands a better chance of being approved than the one to site the stadium on the 'front garden', since this site is a 'brown' one rather than a Greenfield one. If houses can't be built on the site, what makes it safe for a stadium? I would have thought that the loading generated by the stadium structure when full to capacity, must exceed that of the average domestic house by quite some margin. This leads me to assume that there is some environmental problems associated with the infill. If that is the case, then the argument in favour of leaving it well alone must be a strong one.

Surely the planners must have learnt something from the approach taken in Reading, where their stadium is situated close to the motorway and provides access and facilities to a much broader spectrum of users than merely the population of Reading? There is still plenty of land bordering the motorway which could be used, until those options have been exhausted, I would suggest planners refrain from disrupting well established and peaceful residential communities.



From : Adam Hamilton - 29 March 2004

I have been living in the Peatmoor and Shaw area for many years as I prefer the quieter 'out of town' atmosphere, and I expect many other residents feel the same.

Now with the potential development of a 23,000 seater stadium built on our doorstep, we face the prospect of traffic chaos, pollution (not only exhaust gases but litter, noise and light pollution too).

We also face the probability of falling property values and rising insurance costs due to the potential risk of damage and theft. The invasion of football fans (some of which would undoubtedly be out to cause trouble) will result in our streets filled with cars as many will want a pint or two before/after the match.

I strongly urge everyone to make their views know before this intolerable idea is committed.



From : Lindsey Morgans - 29 March 2004

We have only just heard about the proposal for the new Swindon Town's stadium to be built on Shaw Tip. Who thought up of such an idea? We cannot believe that this site could even be considered. This is within a residential area where the traffic will be made worse because of fans coming to the games.

Surely it doesn't take much common sense to realise that if a new stadium is to be built, then it should be built near one of the junctions to the Motorways. That way, any visiting fans can come off the motorway and go directly to the stadium, Swindon wouldn't have to have any additional traffic congestion at all. Is it so difficult for planners to realise this?

It would also save on the huge expense of having to have a new link road to so say alleviate the traffic congestion in West Swindon. If visiting fans are arriving off the Motorway, they are going to leave at Junction 16 and obviously create a huge amount of traffic coming through West Swindon.

One option would be where the towns planners have pinpointed the new building expansion just off Junction 16 where it's supposed to be a bog and prone to flooding. Why would planners who have all this expertise, build houses on this land when house owners may not even be able to get household insurance due to the risk of flooding?!

The common sense of it all just goes out of the window.

The second option is Junction 15 where the M4 and the A419 are already there....no new link road needed.

One other positive of not having the stadium within the town centre or residential areas, is that there are no pubs!!!!

However, where ever this stadium is built, hopefully not on Shaw Tip, ensure that the planners cater for enough parking spaces so that the fans do not have to use streets to park in, causing safety fears.

Not happy



From : Mike Prinzi, Peatmoor - 29 March 2004

What a kick in the teeth if this happens! All the local residents have been looking forward to a country park development in this area. We all know there has been a fair bit of activity in the area and it has been kept fairly quiet of what's been going on over there. I think all the residents have just been waiting for the grand opening of a lovely park when it becomes established, but a stadium! How outrageous!!!



From : David Johnson - 29 March 2004

I live in Peatmoor and have lived in West Swindon for several years. While I agree it would be great to have a new Stadium for Swindon, I do not agree that it should be placed in the middle of a residential area where the facilities are not designed to cope with potentially 23,000 people getting to and from the stadium, along with the knock on effects on the surrounding area.

I work opposite the Madejski Stadium in Reading during the week, and my company uses this for conferences and other events. This is well placed within an industrial/business area, unlike the planned Swindon Stadium. I have seen the effects on local transportation on match days, and I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that nobody would wish this on a residential area with people parking wherever they can to avoid parking at the stadium itself.

With yet another large increase in Council Tax for 2004 (another 8% in my case!), surely we should be expecting better planning for our additional expense than to position a Stadium on a potentially dangerous site just to save money.

If the current politicians in Swindon are looking for supporters for the next elections, they won't find many in West Swindon!



From : Keith Williams - 30 March 2004

With regard to the proposed stadium I feel that we are in danger of having a very ill conceived idea imposed upon us, that runs the risk of being accepted purely because it has been reported in the media that a decision has been made.

The fact is that no discussion has yet taken place outside of a small circle of very senior Borough Councillors and the interested parties. The wider circle of Borough Councillors are not being briefed until the 31 March.

I am quite happy with the extensive sports facilities already on my doorstep. Very few towns or cities have access to the swimming pools, ice rink and gymnasiums in the way the residents of Swindon do. Do we really need a 'sports village', or will it become a millstone around the neck of every Swindon council tax payer?

Not wanting to appear cynical but I fully suspect that the real value in the land is not as a new stadium for Swindon, but in the potential value of the land on which the existing stadium and cricket ground are built, and in the potential commercial development opportunities of the land on which the old refuse site is situated. As Swindon Town currently default on their rental payments on their current site, the sale of the existing stadium and cricket ground land can only be of financial benefit. 

Controlling the noise, light pollution and traffic congestion that this development would cause on an old tip that was not designed for safe venting of methane gas all combine to make a potential disaster for a Council that struggles to keep it's existing financial commitments under control.



From : Teresa & David Mazonowicz - 31 March 2004

We have just read the report on the proposed sighting of the new Swindon Town football stadium at Shaw Forest Country Park and would like to echo the views of the majority of people who have written in so far and say we are outraged by such a proposal.

Having lived in Sparcells for eight years one of the things we most appreciate is the peacefulness of the area. The problems that a 23,000 seater stadium would bring to this area would be intolerable, for both the environment and residents

Don't let this happen.



From : Paul Johnson, Buie Close, Sparcells - 31 March 2004

I personally believe that one of the other two sites considered for the new stadium (off the A419 or at Junction 16) would have been better because they would have been out of town and have a far better road network.

If we do have to have the stadium, I would like the following to be put in place.

1) The facilities at the sports complex can be used by the local residents and are available to use at reasonable prices.

2) Ample cheap parking is made available for people coming to the new stadium and streets in local residential areas are made strictly no parking on match days. These parking restrictions must be backed up with sufficient personnel to ensure that anyone who parks when and where they shouldn't gets a ticket.

3) A new road network is put in place to the new stadium. A new road joining Barnfield to Thamesdown Drive may suffice, but that would cut off most of West Swindon from the Town Centre with the flow of traffic.

4) The site doesn't become a focal point for local youths with nothing better to do than cause a nuisance.



From : David Russell, Shaw - 31 March 2004

Whilst Swindon Town have proposed to build a new stadium at the old Shaw Tip, I think there could be a larger issue involved here.

If the football club failed to get permission to build at the old Shaw Tip, I think the area will ultimately be redeveloped anyway. We should consider what has happened at the Front Garden and also what tends to happen when the Council builds dual carriageways through the town.

Very soon, there will be a dual carriageway linking Barnfield Road and Thamesdown Drive. Usually, business and commercial buildings spring up on either side of these roads. The council have already announced B&Q will be building at Barnfield. It makes sense to imagine that Ikea could have an interest in building somewhere like the Shaw Tip.

Therefore, I think all of us residents should be aware that if Swindon Town do not build a stadium then some other commercial building will be built instead. Personally, I am not 100% against a new stadium being built, providing the building is attractive, there is suitable road access, and the surrounding area is landscaped. This part of West Swindon is an attractive place to live and I would not support the idea of an Oxford-type stadium being built with traffic congestion causing chaos to nearby residents.



From : Janice Oliver, Keycroft Copse, Peatmoor - 31 March 2004

We are still reeling from the shock of this sudden announcement of the 'proposed' football stadium and sporting village to be sited at the Shaw Tip. Obviously this site, and I believe two others, had been in the pipeline for sometime, therefore, why were we not notified sooner about this proposal, at least to gauge some reaction of how this will affect our lives?

I wish to bring up the following issues:

o The two other sites are not located within a residential area and are relatively free from all the potential problems that will undoubtedly occur;

o Car parking. No matter how large the car park, people will park where they do not have to pay. This would be in residential streets, the Anglers' car park at Peatmoor Lagoon and Roughmoor and Shaw village centres;

o This development is not just to cater for football. According to Bob Holt's vision the incorporated sporting village could possibly include an Olympic size swimming pool, greyhound racing, running track, rugby and cricket pitches etc, so this would be seven days a week usage;

o I noted that during a radio interview last week nobody from the council, Swindon Town or St Modwen Properties would tell us just what area along the tip site this build would be situated. However in the Evening Advertiser (Tuesday 23 March), Bob Holt stated that the stadium would not be seen from the road. So somebody, somewhere knows where it will be situated - why the secret?; 

o This site is a tip and means just that. Anything and everything has been tipped there making it unsuitable for any build. Methane and other gases have built up underground over many years and it would be extremely costly to make safe;

o This is the home of the Great Western Community Forest and of rabbits, birds and other wildlife. It is a peaceful environment that can be and is enjoyed by everyone.

Over the years people have planted trees on this site (1,000 at last count) for their children and grandchildren to admire, nurture and to see grow into a forest. All in agreement with Swindon Council, the very people who now want to sell the land. What hypocrisy.

Shaw tip is unsuitable for a building of this size and all the potential problems with it.



From : Andrew Jones - 31 March 2004

I am in support for the removal of the current football stadium and building a new one. However the council and Willy Carson must be joking about putting it on Shaw tip. I live in Sparcells and like many enjoy being on the edge of civilisation but also being close to the countryside and in that I include Shaw Forest and the surrounding areas.

You only need to look at the Madjeski stadium in Reading which is located very nicely near the motorway but also in the middle of an industrial area and not right next to residential developments. The traffic there gets very busy and has major delays with traffics jams but on the outskirts of Reading. Shaw is not enough on the outskirts of Swindon.

I have lived in West Swindon for more than 15 years. Like many people here I am not from Swindon originally. I would imagine that many of the Swindon football fans who live in the town come from the East and central sides of Swindon so why would you also wish to clutter the town every other week by having all those people travel to the other side of the town along with outside town supports also. 

Come on Willie I believe you have jumped one hedge too far here!



From : Phil & Cath McLeod - 31 March 2004

If it was not still March I would have thought the Swindon Town stadium proposal was this years Link magazine April fool joke.

Such a proposal has a lot in common with the proposal in the April Link some years ago for an 'Underground Airport near J16'. However with SBC nothing surprises me anymore. Nobody but SBC could seriously consider such a proposal in such a location, let alone on an old tip.

Quite apart from the difficulties of access, congestion, and disruption to residents the potential environmental problems could be immense. However, I believe the chances of approval being given quickly are very slim, as it will need a full and lengthy investigation of what is in the tip to fully assess the environmental impact during construction, during the stadiums lifetime and also for when the time comes to redevelop the site again.

Certainly to have a stadium ready for 2007/2008 would seem a dream, unless the environmental studies and surveys to ascertain the tip contents have already been completed and no objections are raised to the planning proposal.

A site close to the M4 either at J16 or J15 is the only sensible option, although money and politics seem to come before sense. I also urge everyone to make their views know and force the proposal to go to a full public inquiry.



From : Peter & Marilyn Kempshall - 1 April 2004

We do not want the stadium to be built on Shaw Tip. Our reasons as follows:

Lack of reasonable access to the location from all directions. Suggest that there will be traffic gridlock causing mayhem to local residents and local traffic.

We chose to live in West Swindon because it was a quiet area, away from traffic and masses of people, and for the last 15 years we have been proved right. Then suddenly out of the blue this proposal rears its ugly head. The increase in noise and pollution will be unacceptable.

We have no objection to a football or sports stadium, but feel that it would be environmentally friendly to Swindon residential areas, and town centre if it was built outside of the Town, keeping visiting traffic away from Town and residential area.

We also feel that there should direct access, from and to the motorway, into the Stadium on one side of the ground. Access from the other areas on the opposite side of the stadium - this would help with policing the ground, and keep traffic in Swindon to a minimum.

There still is a "yob" element within the football fans, usually hell-bent on causing trouble, either fighting or causing damage, we realise this is a very small percentage, but it only takes one.



From : Thomas Ketteringham (age 8) , Buie Close Sparcells - 2 April 2004

I have just moved to Sparcells and my dad told me that Swindon Town FC are planning a new stadium on the Great Western Community Forest.

I did not understand him at first but I have just been on the Swindonlink website and now understand. Me and my dad went around Peatmoor Lagoon and Sparcells, alongside the Community Forest. He told me about the gas underground and am very unhappy about thoughts of building the County Ground there. It will make animals homeless and unhappy. It will cause lots of pollution and traffic. It will annoy people driving to the shops and other places.

When I found out about the 1,000 trees planted over the years I was happy about the hard work put into it but when I read about the stadium going in their place I was very unhappy. So why waste all the money put into planting the trees?

It is a bad idea.



From : Callum Wylie, Sparcells - 2 April 2004

I am totally against the proposed new stadium at West Swindon. We have lived in Sparcells for nearly five years and the main reason that we moved here was because it is so peaceful and the children are able to play in a clean and safe neighbourhood. I am sure that this will no longer be the case once the new stadium has been built.

The council are being irresponsible towards the residents of West Swindon by even considering the use of the landfill site for building on. The developing Community Forest has an abundance of wildlife and it allows families to enjoy a bit of the countryside without the use of a car.

It was originally intended for the new stadium to be built at J16 of the M4, so why now build it on a contaminated site in the middle of Swindon which is next to another tip and the sewage works? I cannot believe that the developers would even consider such a project.



From : Tony Anderson - 2 April 2004

I was very shocked and disappointed to hear of the proposals to build a stadium on the Shaw Forest Country Park site.

I used to live in the town centre very near the old stadium before we moved out to the Nine Elms. Every match day was a nightmare, having to tolerate the increased traffic, noise and parking problems.

We moved out to the Nine Elms some years ago and we love the area and the surroundings. We wanted to be as near as possible to the country but within easy access to all amenities to accommodate the family's needs.

It annoys me to think that Swindon council can just come along a drop a bombshell like this and we as residents just have to accept it.

This proposal will have a dramatic impact on the whole area and I think that is totally unacceptable.

Why not build it near junction 15 or 16, keep it all out of town not in a middle of a residential area. I bet the people behind the proposal don't live in West Swindon!



From : Leonora Murray, Old Shaw Lane - 2 April 2004

Thank you to The Link for bringing this development to the attention of the residents of West Swindon.

I believe that this plan is extremely ill conceived and fundamentally flawed. It proposes to remove one of the ever diminishing areas of urban forest and replace it with a source of traffic problems, noise and litter.

At the moment there is an ongoing problem with traffic congestion around the area. It is often very difficult to safely access the roundabout at the front entrance to the Renault building from Shaw Road. Once you factor in the increased traffic levels from the football stadium, this will worsen the situation considerably. The local infrastructure was not designed to cope with a large influx of external traffic.

The litter problem in West Swindon is well known and steadily getting worse. This development will bring many thousands of people through the residential areas and this will hardly improve the situation.

The wildlife in the community forest will, of course, be completely removed. The foxes, badgers and other species will lose another habitat and we will all miss the tranquillity that the trees provide.

I will probably be accused of being a NIMBY. If so, I plead guilty. Not in my back yard? No, not when the problems that will arise are so obvious and the advantages to the people of West Swindon are ..... Sorry, I can't think of any!



From : Deborah and Terry Williams, Shaw - 2 April 2004

It is with mixed feelings and also very strong feelings that I write this email. Whilst the concept of this stadium presents a wonderful opportunity for the town I am afraid that the location is a definite no go area. 

Not In My back Yard I am afraid.

If it was not good enough because of the road structure for Ikea to move into the Renault building then why should a stadium be built attracting far more movement of traffic into this area?

Admirable as the idea is, it is sheer lunacy to build it so far into the western area of Swindon. What about looking at the landfill site near to Jardiniere on the southern side with easy access and egress from the M4 and far enough away where the hooligan element can cause less disturbance and damage and the noise is minimised.

Fine, so the proposal is going to be building it in a lower part of the Shaw tip minimising impact so we are told, and what will be some of the consequences?

Most of the trees that have been so lovingly planted enhancing the green areas around the community will be destroyed as well as the loss of the community forest, toxins and contaminants such as methane, other gases and asbestos will more than likely be present posing a hazard to those who will work on the site as well as to residents.

House prices will fall, Insurance will rise, noise pollution will be more than evident, increased pollution from cars, buses and other transport. The roads will be choked - they are bad enough now and the hooligan element.

These are but a few points against this ill proposed siting, and yet another indiscriminate and incomprehensible proposed planning discussion by local quango's.

NOT IN MY BACK YARD!



From : Jane McCracken - 2 April 2004

Well I am absolutely gutted about the proposals for this stadium to be built on Shaw tip. My house looks directly onto the proposed site for the stadium and everyday my daughter and I enjoy looking out of the window to see the deer and other wildlife. It is so peaceful, a lovely place to live.

To think in the near future we will more than likely be looking out to see a football stadium and lord knows what else is a very sad thought. The reason we chose this house over others was because of the view we had, and now it looks like that is going to be taken away from us.

Not only unhappy but very sad too!



From : Colin, Sparcells - 2 April 2004

A football stadium, what an outrageous idea.

This is a quiet residential area. I moved to the area two years ago with the clear intention that the area in front of my house was to be a country park and that owing to the fact that it was reclaimed land, previously a tip, nothing could be built on it.

We daily see wildlife on the bank amongst the trees. This includes deer, foxes and woodpeckers. Any building on this area would ruin their habitat.

I certainly would not have moved to the area if there had been any possibility of building a stadium. In the search for a new home the likes of St Andrews Ridge was discounted because of the Speedway etc.

We do not need a football ground, if we do it should be placed near the Motorway will good links for away fans not in the middle of a residential area.

There are more than enough leisure facilities in West Swindon already covering numerous gym's, swimming pools etc.

The Council and residents must reject the idea now!!



From : Paul and Cherri Matthews, Sparcells - 3 April 2004

We are thoroughly opposed to building a football stadium and other sports facilities on the Shaw tip site. Here are our reasons.

1) We moved from Newcastle Street (next to B&Q) in Swindon centre last year to Sparcells. Whilst living in town every time there was a home match we would have people coming to the match parking anywhere and everywhere, outside our house, across the rear access to our garden, anywhere they could find a small space to cram a car into. If we wanted to go out on a match day we had to go on foot, because we knew there would be no chance of parking near our house when we returned.

Whenever there was a home match in the evening the floodlights would light not only the stadium, but the whole of the surrounding area, including our house. We had to move our bedroom from the back of our house to the front, so that we were not kept awake on match nights.

The noise from the County Ground was deafening on some occasions. Whenever a goal was scored we could hear it in our lounge, even when watching TV. We could also hear every word of the loud speaker commentary, so even on a Sunday afternoon, if there was an event at the County Ground we got to hear every word of it!

I am sure that the majority of football supporters are good people, but the few spoil it for the rest and on more than one occasion we would get drunk supporters walking down Newcastle Street damaging cars and throwing alcohol bottles around, singing football songs and causing a nuisance.

So our first objection is the proximity to our current house. For those of you who have not lived near a stadium I would like to ask you the following questions:-
o Do you want your roads jammed up with cars of strangers?
o Do you want strangers walking around where you live, especially those of you with children?
o Do you want to live with the possibility of damage to your homes and property?
o Would you like your house floodlit?
o Do you want to listen to and join in with every goal scored?
o Do you want to listen to the constant whine of speedway cars and bikes when you are sitting in your garden on a lazy Sunday?
o Would you like a constant loudspeaker commentary whilst you are trying to watch TV in the evening with your windows open in the summer?
o Do you enjoy drunken football supporters weaving around your house at night throwing bottles over your garden fence?

If you can honestly answer 'yes' to the above, then please, be my guest and move next door to a stadium, but for those of us who want to live in peace, I beg you, do not build this white elephant in my back garden! We moved to Sparcells to get away from all of the above and had we known about the 'proposed' plans we would probably not have moved here. The people at Swindon Town, the Council and the out-of-town developers don't have to live here, we do, if they want it so much let them move into our houses in Sparcells and we will swap with them!!!

2) I think we have made our views on access known above! Larger roads would bring move building work, more noise, more traffic, more development, more traffic jams, more pollution and more hassle for residents, who will be the losers in the end.

3) Sparcells has a wonderful country feel at the moment. We can see deers, foxes, squirrels and birds from our garden. Please don't kill the animals with construction equipment, starvation and the loss of their homes.

4) The one thing people say to us when they visit our house is how lovely and quiet it is around where I live. If this goes ahead...................!

5) We are very worried about the possibility of pollution if the tip gets churned up with construction. Who knows what is buried there and is it going to cause airborne pollution and toxins to be released. Can we have a guarantee that no-one, including the wildlife, will get sick?

6) What happened to all the hard work for the country park. All that promise, hard work and planting done for nothing. All the investment of local people and the community just forgotten about when it suits other people.

7) Our Council go on about integrity and wildlife and forestry policy, they put out booklets and leaflets and have a website about how great they are, what they are doing for us and how they are concerned for the community - but as soon as big money is involved they just turn a blind eye to everything that went before - what hypocrites!

We are incredibly angry that our new home, in an area that we are proud to live in, is under threat from invasion. Why would anyone dump something like this in the middle of a residential area and country park, unless they are all going to make money out of it!?

We are not the sort of people who make a fuss or protest, we like a quiet non-confrontational sort of life. But this time it is time to act and stand up, because our home and our way of life is under threat. Please don't let this construction go ahead. Please let us know what we can do to join in and help stop it!



From : Denise Tylee, Stenness Close, Sparcells - 3 April 2004

I cannot believe that this proposal which has clearly been planned for some time has just been released. I have been a resident of Sparcells for 10 years and have nervously watched the development of Peatmoor housing and Thamesdown Drive.

To now find an access road to the proposed Stadium will run parallel to the back of my house is a nightmare. My son was 3 years old when he planted his first tree for the planned Country Park, and I was delighted to see that the land was to be used constructively for a change, rather than just building which is the SBC usual trend. I desperately need to know when a residents meeting will be held and what else I can do to voice my concerns, as are my neighbours.

What disturbing a tip may uncover is yet another extremely valuable concern I & many others have.



From : Marilyn Beale (Swindon Environmental Citizen of the Year, 2004), Penhill - 4 April 2004

I am outraged that anything should be built at Shaw Tip, especially if they mean the Country Park site - although I can't see anywhere else there with room for the planned stadium etc.

The tree planting sessions were held especially to encourage LOCAL people to come forward and 'take ownership' of the site and give children the pleasure of planting trees that they can see grow. Prior to the tree plants, many people were invited to consultation meetings to find out what people wanted from that area of land. It was made clear to us, at the meetings and at the tree plants that the site was unsuitable for anything else due to the gases etc., produced by the landfill site, was an excellent way of using up waste soil from Swindon Northern Orbital Road.

Somewhere I have the plan produced at the time, I think from the centre pages of the Link Magazine. At this time, with so much being done to try to involve local people in decision making - giving them a greater stake and reason to go out to vote - I can't believe that all the work that has gone into creating the country park could be turned on it's head, without considerable loss of face by local councillors, some of whom were at those meetings.

There is no mention of development on this site in the Local Plan, which must take up hours and hours of certain officers time, let alone those of us who read it and respond, attend meetings etc.,

Swindon is just completing its Community Strategy and among the criteria for it, set out by the local government act 2000 is: that the councils decision making processes are efficient, transparent and accountable. they actively engage the community in local decisions .

For goodness sake Swindon Council, stop sticking two fingers up at the people who vote you in.



From : Andrew Phillips - 4 April 2004

Is everyone on the council so short sighted they cannot see the problems this proposition will cause?

We have a poor road infrastructure in west Swindon as it is, as demonstrated every morning by the queuing traffic. How do they justify adding a 20,000+ seat stadium and sports complex to an already overcrowded traffic area? The link roads mentioned in the plans were designed to relieve the current traffic problem not cope with an additional influx of thousands more... has the council taken leave of its senses? 

That's just the traffic issue. There is also the environmental damage and pollution/litter issue as well as policing, noise and crime... wake up Swindon this is a bad idea. The new stadium should be built in a non residential area with good access routes, preferably next to a motorway junction or major link road.



From : Bev Hawes - 4 April 2004

I find it unbelievable that anyone apart from a developer would dream of putting a football ground in the proposed new area,

It's a golden opportunity to put the ground outside of town, the noise of people cheering / bawling like wild animals carries for several miles, great in the evening when you are in bed. There are hundreds of shift workers who live closeby.

West Swindon is now becoming mature with the thousands of trees planted growing at a good rate and it is a peaceful place, horse riders, walkers people with young children on cycles away from the fast roads of the area. I maintain that all the people moving to the County Ground area were aware that they were moving to a noisy area with roads blocked by police to allow the gangs of yobs access to the football ground. Look at the parking problems, the problem was already there. this area will become instantly rough.

The majority of people in Shaw, Peatmoor, Nine Elms, and Sparcells generally lead a quiet life and chose to live in the area for a quality of life that is very good. Imagine thousands of people heading towards the area, the noise would be unbelievable and as far as the other sorts uses? I thought other facilities were under used.

Please please, put it in the middle of nowhere. It would make the Ikea plan look like a drop in the ocean. Also I understand the football club owes Swindon Council hundreds of thousands of pounds in council tax. Could they please settle this bill before getting big ideas.

This is such a bad idea that I'm sorry that its just an April fools joke.



From : Barbara Rayment - 4 April 2004

I am a horrified Sparcells resident, with my back garden looking out onto the open land which we were promised was a 50 year Forest Project.

How can this council be even contemplating putting a stadium where there is so much housing? The problems with people trying to park their cars would be horrendous, you only have to see what chaos the recent circus had on the roads when it was in the field closeby for one week.

That is aside to the fact of course that our view is going to be vastly different to what we had been told. Over the years local families have planted trees, dedicating them to loved ones, they are now proposing to rip all these out. The value of our properties would dramatically decrease and as a widow living completely alone I dread to think the element of people who would be wandering down my street, which is a cul de sac but takes you through to the path running along by the stream from Peatmoor Lagoon.

Another aspect of course is the wildlife. For years now I have been watching the deer feed at dusk and dawn, they would disappear along with a great many other species I am sure.

Surely a much wiser decision would be to put the stadium close to junction 16 on the M4, easy access for fans and no housing development to disrupt.

Please let us as inhabitants who will be severely affected, know what we can do to stop this happening. I personally will be writing to Julia Drown as our MP to enlist her help which I am sure she has been already approached about.

Is there a petition going round? Who can we write to to voice our dismay? Are there likely to be any meetings? How much would the voice of residents be taken into consideration? How close is this to happening?



From : Karen Burns - 4 April 2004

I just wanted to add a short note expressing my horror at the proposal of the new stadium and sports village at Shaw Tip. I echo many of my neighbours thoughts and feelings when I say that this idea would be disastrous for West Swindon. This is a lovely, quiet area to live which unfortunately already struggles with peak time traffic. As we saw the other week, it was brought to a standstill with the traffic from the visiting circus.

I too am concerned with the noise, pollution and traffic congestion the stadium will bring, let alone people parking in our streets and drunken football fans walking through. This will certainly have a negative affect on the value of our properties, the quality of our home environment and personal peace when trying to relax outside of work.

I agree with others that the stadium and sports village is a good idea, but not in our backyard. It should be built next to either junction 15 or 16.



From : Dawn Marjoram - 6 April 2004

I would like to express my horror that the proposed football stadium is to be situated on Shaw Tip. I chose to buy a house in Sparcells because it was in such a peaceful location and I was assured the tip would be developed as a country park. I overlook this site and regularly see deer and other wildlife. I cannot believe that the council have promoted this area as a country park and planted hundreds of lovely young trees there only to destroy it all.

I am seriously considering moving to a quieter location if this goes ahead, as my home will become intolerable with noise and light pollution, not forgetting the traffic problems this will also bring to the surrounding areas.

Obviously a new stadium will be of great benefit to Swindon, but sited near the motorway and not in a residential area please.



From : John Doyle, Nine Elms - 7 April 2004

The site is now designated Shaw Forest Country Park not Shaw Tip.

The references to Shaw Tip is good PR for the developers, the Council and STFC - makes it sound like they are doing us a favour getting rid of a piece of nasty, unsightly and smelly waste ground. Clearly the site is no longer a tip and should be referred to it's correct name Shaw Forest Country Park and the correct image generated.

I went along to the Shaw Residents meeting the other night with an open mind - I don't believe it should be stopped just because it's in my back yard - but the proposal is outrageous and ill conceived. The council seem to be on a flight of fancy on a grandiose scheme that they really aren't up to undertaking and exposing the Council Tax payers of Swindon (all Swindon, not just West Swindon) to some huge tax hikes if it all goes wrong.

STFC must be on a flight of fantasy too - when has there ever been a need to seat 22/23/25 thousand (the numbers vary in the reports) fans in the County Ground? Delusions of adequacy.

I'd be interested to know the finances behind the deal - STFC are strapped for cash as are the council. Presumably the developers are going to get something out of the development of the County Ground site as well as the Link Centre and Oasis sites when they close and move into the "Sports Village".

With speculation that a second football team might like to share the stadium, the speedway track and pop concerts etc... it's going to be a noisy, dirty, grid locked area to live in.



From : David Bassett - 7 April 2004

This proposal is horrifying and it simply must be stopped. There are so many arguments against it that I can't believe anyone is taking this outrage seriously.

However, I am concerned that although the Council pay lip service to consultations with residents, our views will have no weight at all and if the Council wants it, it will go ahead.

I am also concerned that I won't be advised of or get to hear about public meetings etc - already there has been one, the Shaw Residents Association, which I didn't know about until it was reported in the Evening Advertiser, but I would certainly have attended if I had known of it.

I feel at a loss as to how to oppose something which will blight my life totally.

Come on local residents, we really have to get together and stop this monstrous idea. Now.



From : Matt Prior, Conservation Officer, Wiltshire Ornithological Society - 7 April 2004

When will we realise that a green area within the Borough of Swindon could be there for a reason and is simply not a development waiting to happen?

The recent proposal of moving the football stadium to the River Ray Parkway is not appropriate and must not be allowed to happen.

The River Ray corridor is one of the few places in Swindon where wildlife flourishes. At every opportunity various parties look at a map and see it as fair game for development, I use this word lightly because really it is habitat destruction.

The area in question is the second best area in the whole of Wiltshire for the secretive grasshopper warbler, barn owls hunt the rough grassland and well over 150 species of bird have been recorded.

It is also crucial to the survival of the red listed reed bunting in north Wiltshire. The area on top of the old landfill site supports a good number of snipe and in recent years internationally important numbers of the scarce jack snipe.

In addition to birds, otters are now resident and there are harvest mice, water shrews, water voles and at least three species of bat. The area also has a large population of the EU protected great crested newt.

Swindon Borough Council and the Great Western Community Forest partnership has spent the last ten years planting trees and enhancing the River Ray Parkway for wildlife and people, so why now destroy this good effort? Rather than keep attempting to destroy one of the last few wild areas of the borough why not protect and nurture it?

This does not solve the problem of what to do with regards to a football stadium. But proposing to put it on one of the last few areas within Swindon that still supports biodiversity is wrong.

I leave you to reflect on two statements from the council's website:

1. To make sure the whole community understands why the environment is so important and is actively engaged in doing their bit.
2. To make sure that future generations are able to enjoy a richer and more diverse natural environment than we do today.

From : Ian Bailey - 7 April 2004

I wanted to attend the meeting on the 5th April, but unfortunately due to work, I was not able to attend.

I see from the numerous articles, no one seems to have mentioned what is to happen to the wildlife that has taken over this area of land - Deer - Rabbits - Foxes etc. I see we would be looking at "ripping" out the trees, does this mean we will be looking at "killing" the local wildlife?

There are a number of areas that need to be discussed: effect on quality of life, safety of the area (just see what the County Ground area is like on match day!), even property values!

I would be very interested to hear when the next meeting is to happen and I will be make every effort to attend.



From : Mandy Clark, Sparcells - 7 April 2004

What an absolute joke!!! It is obvious from reading the comments of others that many of us are united in both why we chose to live in West Swindon and why we are so strongly OPPOSED to building a new football stadium and sports village in what is currently such a lovely, peaceful residential area.

A quote from Mike Bawden (Leader of the Conservative Party) says the Old Shaw Tip has 'real potential for a great leisure facility that will benefit local people' and I'm sure the likes of Anthony Glossop (Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive of St. Modwen Properties plc) and Willie Carson (STFC Chairman) all agree.

But where do these and all the other people who think this is a good idea live? I wonder how many of them actually live in the West Swindon area and will therefore be directly affected by such a ludicrously positioned development...not many I doubt!

With the amount of opposition on this website alone, I cannot see many people giving this the thumbs up. But it will be interesting to see if the opinions of local residents will be considered as seriously as we are being told they will. After all there is a lot of money to be made by the people who will be least affected by such a development.



From : Julia Drown, MP for Swindon South - 7 April 2004

I am keen to see Swindon Town do well. I have a real fondness for the County Ground and so would be sorry to see the Club move on from there but I can see the positive side of a new stadium for the Town.

I was surprised to see the proposal for Shaw as I'd always thought of the land there as the community forest which I've also supported - I remember like so many people do, planting trees there in the cold.

The planning decisions will of course be for the councillors to take so I am urging residents to make sure their local councillors know their views as I think it is important that local people get heard in these debates.



From : Katie C - 8 April 2004

I've lived in Sparcells now for 16 years and of all this time have also been a dedicated STFC fan.

However I have recently discovered the devastating news about the proposed STFC stadium being built on the old Shaw Tip site. Once hearing this news I had to decide where my priorities lie and I feel Sparcells deserves my loyalty!

Having lived in Sparcells for this long I have been lucky enough to attend a tree-planting day held at the site! I was only 11 when I planted my tree and my brother planted one also. I planted my tree on the edge of the site so I could see it from my house! I was also lucky to be able to dedicate the tree to my Granddad who had previously passed away!

Never in my years of growing up did I think I was planting the tree for it to be demolished and replaced with a football stadium! So instead of seeing a tree, which grows in my vision from my bedroom window, I will have to see a massive stadium! I would rather see the many trees there and the amazing wildlife that roams there any day!

I know some people say how it's only a few trees but they don't understand how hundreds of people have planted trees there and many of those were in dedication for someone. Surely they deserve the life they expected in being a brilliant attribute to what was going to be a great country park one day for children and future children such as my own!

It isn't even just the trees that will be missed but the amazing animals such as the deer, rabbits, foxes and so many more!

So I am sorry to say that STFC yet again have lost someone who before this proposal was a loyal STFC fan at this rate they need to be careful after all, the football just about brings in a crowd let alone damaging a future country park to try and prompt people in to the brand new one!

I would also like to point out how the only support for this stadium proposal is coming from people who don't live in Sparcells and therefore won't be affected! No wonder they are in support they have never been lucky enough to see the deer in the morning, the trees and they won't be the ones affected by the traffic, noise, destruction etc. that it will cause to the Sparcells community.

Many Thanks for the website its really great!



From : Jeremy Waldron and Beverley Davies, Sparcells - 8 April 2004

The proposed development would be a disaster for the community and environment. These developers will try every trick in the book to get this development approved. It is therefore important to use our strength, within the local area, to stop this man made disaster from occurring.

1. They will try to get permission for this many times over and over again, making minor changes to try and appease, 'cost is no problem too them'. So we must be prepared not to worn down by there persistence.
2. They will try to divide people, within Swindon and the local area, claiming support from elsewhere. Ask anybody around the present stadium most of them think it is a real nuisance.
3. They will offer all kinds of 'sweeteners' to Planners and councillors alike. Remember we must demand there backing as we are "HIGH COUNCIL TAX" payers paying their wages, lets make them work for us NOT the developers.
4. They will depend on local tolerance and employment. Let's not tolerate their pipe dreams and the promise of lucrative employment, the vast majority of people who would work there will be very low paid.

Finally can we get together as a local community and perhaps purchase the land for the local residents, even though we have already paid the council for this through our TAXES, if we out bid the developers they will quickly lose interest in any allusions for this precious land.



From : Neil Webb, Sparcells - 8 April 2004

We cannot believe the council are even considering this proposal. There are so many negatives.

I am a Swindon town fan and want to see them in a new stadium, but surely this would be best done on the edge of town. I live in Sparcells and will move if this goes ahead, at a loss, as house prices will depreciate.

Traffic gridlock, people parking over my drive, pi**ed up away fans, noise pollution, air pollution, property devaluation.....etc.....thanks, but no thanks.



From : Kevin Fisher, Sparcells - 8 April 2004

What a nightmare scenario this is for local residents. I note so many good reasons to stop this nonsense in all the other emails, so I will comment on a few only:

First Sparcells: This will turn into one big car park for people attending the events. Nothing short of security barriers across Sparcells drive will stop this.

Now other residents: Football fans will always be willing to walk 30 minutes or more if it gets them free parking and a fast exit (eg not having to wait in queues of traffic leaving a car park), so beware residents of Even Lode, Westlea, Eastleaze, Ramleaze, Peatmore, Moredon, Rodbourne, Haydon and others.

Rail travellers: Imagine the numbers of people walking from the train station to the site - whose residential areas will they travel through?

Business: How much will local companies need to spend to improve their car park security?

Now imagine the noise pollution from this development - first of all the land is very high and so the noise will travel further! No-one in residential areas such as Even Lode, Westlea, Eastleaze, Ramleaze, Peatmore and of course Sparcells will get any peace and quiet on any day of the week.

I would like to ask a question to the Nationwide Building Society: As a sponsor of the football club, are you really willing to have your name tarnished so badly in the eyes of so many local residents?

So in conclusion, I ask all Swindon councillors this question: Would YOU be prepared to have this in your back yard? I suspect not and so I assume you will turn this insane proposal down very quickly. Of course if you would be quite happy to have such a development in your back yard, please contact me, as my home will soon be on the market. I assume you will pay me the going rate for my property BEFORE this development had been proposed and not the reduced rate that I now have on my home as a direct result of these insane plans.



From : Nige C - 8 April 2004

I have read all the comments, for and against and it appears that yet again, Swindon Council will not listen to the local population; all they are concerned about is making money.

The roads around the area have trouble coping now, what will happen when the traffic increases?

Pollution - What is under the tip?? No one knows. If someone is made ill by any of the disturbed rubbish, what will the Council say, "Oh sorry, we did not know or its not our fault?"

I won't go on about the rest of my concerns as they have been covered in previous comments.

But final points is this: Swindon Council said that the forest would benefit future generations. What has made them change their mind??

If this goes ahead, would the people of Swindon trust the council again with anything they say?

I intend to go to the meeting on 29 April and voice my concerns. I will also write to all the relevant people. If the local residents do the same, then perhaps the Council might listen and get the subtle hint that the locals do not want the development

Daniel Jones - I respect your decision to support the development but using the F word to express your views disappoints me.

Call me a NIMBY, yep but that is the beauty of living in a democracy.

I do not want the development to go ahead.



From : Sheridan, Sparcells - 9 April 2004

Almost a decade ago my friends and family, together with many others, helped plant the Shaw Community Forest. Our children were taught that the forest would grow with them to maturity and eventually outlive them. It is their legacy for future generations to enjoy.

I am absolutely appalled that anyone can even consider allowing the destruction of the forest. It belongs to the community, to the people of Swindon.

Having expressed my feelings, I must add that I do understand that there are many people who feel as strongly about building a new stadium as I do about saving the forest. People will always have different opinions, hobbies and interests and I would ask Swindon's football supporters to respect ours and not to destroy our dream in order to replace it with their own. There must be a suitable alternative site and we should work together to find it.



From : Alan Hayward - 10 April 2004

All of this talk about Olympic sized swimming pools, cricket & rugby grounds and the like is just a fictional sweetener for the public.

I don't think STFC are really interested in anything other than a new football stadium. Who is going to pay for the rest of these amenities? I bet it isn't Swindon Borough Council, unless they intend to double the Council Tax next year (anybody agree with that, then?).

And why do we need all of these extra facilities? There are plenty of pools, gyms and outdoor recreation areas around the Borough that are empty most of the time. It is WHITEWASH.

If this ever gets planning permission - which it won't - I can guarantee that these fantastic, attractive, "for the benefit of the people of Swindon" extras will evaporate quicker than the Council's promises of public consultation.

I just LOVE listening to and reading the encouraging and positive comments about "what a good idea the new stadium is" from people, including some councillors. I bet they won't be living next door to it. The County Ground has been on its present site for well over 100 years, which means that everybody who lives close to it had a choice about where his or her house was. This (almost guaranteed steamrollered through planning approval) proposal does not give my family or myself a choice and that is basically, fundamentally and democratically WRONG.



From : Mark Densham - 14 April 2004

It is a great idea to have a new stadium and all the other fantastic sporting facilities being promised, but not at the Shaw Community Forest. This is a conservation area where local residents planted trees and dedicated them to people. My dead baby son's tree is up there. I was looking forward to walking with my other children in a forest they helped to create. If the development goes ahead the noise pollution in the surrounding area will be intolerable especially from the proposed Speedway Track.

The local road system is not designed to deal with the quantity of traffic which will be moving through the area on match days causing gridlock. With the access off Mead Way the surrounding areas will become car parks for supporters not wishing to pay for official parking.

The people living in this area chose it because of the peace and quiet. They paid more for their houses because of this, money which they have all worked long and hard for. The property values will and have already dropped considerably due to this proposal. Is Swindon Council willing to pay everyone affected the appropriate compensation?

Why don't they consider putting this entire development near Junction 16 where there is lots of development land for sale and the road system is in place to cope with the excess traffic? Also there are no residential areas nearby to upset.



From : John and Elaine, Middleleaze - 14 April 2004

You only have to look at the debate on this website to realise that the people who argue 'for' the stadium to be built on the proposed site are not very desirable as neighbours. They probably live nowhere near the site and demonstrate their inability to fight their cause without using foul language.

As neighbours to the proposed scheme, we sympathise with the 'tree huggers' and 'newt lovers' that this is an area which we were promised would be an area that we could all enjoy (football fans or not). 'We' (those of us who live near) would prefer to share our neighbourhood with the wildlife and trees, in preference to petrol fumes, traffic congestion and foul mouthed visitors.

We also agree that Swindon needs a new stadium and sports site but not in the middle of poor road networks. Anyone who used the new road between Priory Vale and West Swindon during the time that the Circus came to town knows that this is not a good site for a Sports Village.

There is a huge area between West Swindon and the M4 motorway which is surely a better site for a Sports Village such as that proposed.

During the past few years we have heard of proposals for a new stadium at Blunsdon and Junction 16 - surely both these sites are more suitable - both have dual carriageways and motorways supplying them. The proposed site at Shaw Park is only supplied by two way traffic - how can our Council even consider this?

How can we trust Swindon Borough Council if they give their approval to this application? This plan will resolve the current problem of congestion in the town but will exacerbate the problem of road networks in West Swindon.



From : Monica Edwards, Sparcells - 15 April 2004

Good old Swindon Borough Council - as if Swindon isn't already a big enough joke.

"Let's build a new football stadium."
"Yes, great idea."
"Let's build it on a rubbish tip right next door to residential areas in West Swindon. Oh, yeah, and while we are at it wouldn't it be a good idea to put in two rugby pitches, an athletics track, speedway and dog racing, new swimming pool, hotels and restaurants as well, and don't forget the old pop concert or two."
"The residents won't mind us tearing down all the trees they planted, getting rid of the wildlife, the increased litter, possible vandalism, the noise and light pollution" (I COULDN'T SEE ONE FLOODLIGHT ON THEIR PLAN, STRANGE THAT)
"Oh, yeah, don't forget the extra traffic on already busy roads."

The main reason IKEA didn't buy the Renault building was because of the traffic problems in the area. No one knows what has been buried in the Shaw Tip - asbestos from the railways??? it went somewhere.

Just look at the Millennium Dome - that too was built on a rubbish tip and funnily enough no one will touch it now!! Isn't there a lesson to be learnt here or is it just too obvious??

A football stadium to hold 23,000 people - the average attendance is 8,000 and even the highest for the season was under 15,000, so for 99% of all home games the stadium will be only 1/3 full.

Another swimming pool in the area - watch out Oasis and Link there's not room or demand enough for three.

More hotels - the one's we have already are only half full/empty most of the time.

Come on Rodbourne and Cheney Manor join our fight - with the main entrance through Barnfield your roads will be chock-a-block as well. Come on Wood Hall Park, Pembroke Park and Moredon - the new road will be going straight through Hreod's Playing Fields - that's OK because you've been promised a new school. We were promised once and the Council broke their promise so make sure you get your new school.

People keep saying about the great opportunities and how it will benefit the Local Community. HOW??? We don't want it.

I would have thought all this money, time and effort would be better spent getting our failed Social Services and Education Departments up to average.



From : The Watkins Family, Sparcells - 15 April 2004

We have lived in Sparcells for over ten years now and have a little boy. We have looked forward over the years to the development of the forest and have enjoyed the privilege of taking long walks through the Allied Dunbar conservation area, often seeing deer on the hillsides (a family of 5 at the last count). Not many people can boast that kind of view.

We have loved living in Sparcells and had no plans to move as we believed that it was such a lovely place to live - we are now very concerned and appalled that this will now be lost forever if this stadium is build on our doorstep. We can be called 'NIMBYS' all you like but if you faced such a loss then you would do all you could to stop it.

It is our view that Swindon Borough Council cannot be trusted with anything they say or do - they promised us a forest and have now reneged on that in exchange for a good old-fashioned pay off. The consideration of home owners, despite being the electorate who put the councillors in power, is NOT taken into account, it is merely paid lip service. This fact is highlighted when concerned residents make their concerns public and are threatened by the council. The signs on Hillmead Drive were an inspiration to us all and the council's reaction just shows how much they view residents' opinions.

As for the comments in the Adver. from Devlin, chairman of STFC, about people being 'frightened' of change, how patronising, it's not change people are afraid of but the destruction of wildlife and forest and the impact of such a horrific idea on the local community.

I think we should all withhold payment of our council tax - that might make the corrupt officials at the council take note!



From : Sandra Medcraft, Nine Elms - 18 April 2004

I was horrified to learn of the proposal to turn Shaw Community Forest into a sporting village with 22,000 football stadium, Olympic-sized pool, 2 rugby pitches, cricket ground, restaurants, hotels, dog track, speedway track and running track.

My husband and I have been active members of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers for over 20 years helping communities in this country and abroad save and improve their environments, we feel like Swindon has gone mad!

This land is not suitable for this type of development due to contamination, ground conditions and location, but it has huge potential as a safe green amenity with woodland, park, common, nature area and public open space. It supports a rich variety of plant, animal and bird life, please save it for our future generations.

We transformed an eyesore into a valuable community asset, please don't turn it back into an eyesore



From : Rachael Aplin - 20 April 2004

I am a young 22 year old mother who lives in The Prinnels in West Swindon which is not far from where the proposed site for the new stadium is. I am NOT in favour of the stadium being there.

The area in which I live in is quite pleasant and quiet. The local pubs are very family orientated and I have been happy to take my 20 month child into them.

I am against this proposal as I feel that the area will become subject to increased levels of violence from football larger louts. The pubs will become rowdy and not a place to take a child to have a quiet family meal.

The roads around my home will become overloaded with supporters from other football clubs. Making it difficult to access the places I enjoy visiting in West Swindon. The noise pollution will therefore increase.

I do not pay out on increased Council Tax to destroy the area I live in. I believe that the council will be able to put a lot into the development and building of this proposed stadium, but I do feel that other areas around it will be left in the dark and left to rot.



From : Pat and Norman Grant - 21 April 2004

The proposal appears to be in direct conflict with the Swindon Town Plan which has received Ministerial approval.

It appears that it is intended to virtually destroy the Community Forest which has been established by the Swindon Borough Council with the enthusiastic co-operation of the general public, various environmental and other voluntary bodies. Many of the trees have been paid for and planted by individual members of the public, in some cases as a memorial to dead relatives, friends and animals.

The forest area now has a animal and bird population which has become well established due to the particularly suitable conditions

It has been reported that part of the site is on the former Shaw Tip which is understood to contain toxic or at least environmentally sensitive material. It is believed that government money was used to contribute to the sealing of this tip to prevent environmental damage which could occur over a very wide area if the cap is disturbed. Even if this material is removed the disturbance and transporting of it could prove to be hazardous.

If the tip has been sealed it must mean that the land is unsuitable for development and therefore has no development value. The removal of the toxic material would be in order to enable the land to be developed and in those circumstances the Council would be obliged by law to obtain the best price, i.e. full market value.

Concern has been expressed that cars would be parked in neighbouring residential streets either because of insufficient on site parking or the unwillingness of car owners to pay for parking. The developers appear to acknowledge this by offering free parking on the site for those whose streets are used by visitorsš cars. This is a nonsense! Why not offer the free parking to the visitors and leave the local residents in peace.

The normal attendance at the Swindon County Ground is about 6-7000 with higher attendances on one or two occasions per year. Why is the proposed seating capacity of the intended stadium set at 23,000. It is well known that the Swindon Town Football Club has had constant financial problems (these have been regularly reported in the local and national sporting press) and the doubt arises as to how the club will be able to pay its way without imposing a further burden on the Council, (in reality the council tax payers) as has happened in the past.



From : G. Brown - 21 April 2004

What ever happened to the long term plans for the Great Western Community Forest that residents of Sparcells, Peatmoor, Nine Elms & Shaw were encouraged to help expand by planting young trees since the mid 1990s.

Is all this going to be lost to a multi-sports development which is a carrot to blind SBC enabling STFC to sneak in under its cover and get the new grounds they have so far failed to find?

Though the proposed site is brownfield and development on such is encouraged by the Government, I doubt permission to build will be granted because of the lands chequered history.

As a former dump it is unsure what lies below the surface as records cannot be found to isolate the substances left there. One thing is for sure there is BLUE ASBESTOS dumped there from when the Railway Works were closed down.

What other dangerous substances lurk below the surface that will be exposed if excavation work started? And will the developers and partners be willing to foot the bill to decontaminate the area PROPERLY?

STFC should look for a site well away from any centre of population. I would not wish upon anyone what the residents around the County Ground must have to endure on match days.

Football is probably the only spectator sport that does not earn respect from the way it conducts itself on and off the field and to have a stadium within easy reach of a community does not bare thinking about.

I and my family reject the proposal.



From : James, aged 4 - 23 April 2004

Please save the trees, the animals will have nowhere to live.

Animals need woods and fields, not buildings. You have to help the animals, because they can’t fight for themselves.



From : Graham Millward - 23 April 2004

Can our local authority learn something from the ongoing development of the town of Reading. If Swindon wants to survive as a commercial business centre and continue to attract new businesses, it must provide state of the art industrial, distribution and retail developments along the M4 corridor. You do not have to look further than the town (or future) city of Reading. Berkshire. This town had the courage to revitalise itself and its potential future prosperity, by building a massive retail and industrial / distribution centre along the M4 corridor. And guess what? They built a fine new football stadium on this corridor too. It is important that goods and services can be accessed within a few minutes from the Motorway. If Reading can do it. So can we. Lets be positive and try to find solutions, not problems of getting what we all really want. A prosperous town that will allow us to bid for city status and a stadium complex to be proud of, built on the M4 corridor. The reasons for my opposition to this project have already been well put by others. On a final note. If Mr Madjeski can help build the Reading stadium. Why can't private money be used to develop or build our stadium?



From : Samantha McCracken, Age 10 - 23 April 2004

Dear Swindon Town

My house is directly in the view of where you are planning on building a stadium. Everyday I look out of my window and look at all of the lovely deers, now when I think back to you planning on building a stadium it quite upsets me. Now you answer this question for me, where are the deers going to live? Now if you lived where I lived you would not be very pleased, because if these plans go ahead all I will see is a football stadium. Plus when I go to bed I will not be able to sleep because the stadium lights.

Yours sincerely



From : Eddie Bedwell, Haydon Wick - 25 April 2004

This proposal is a disgrace

It shows no respect for the hundreds of men, women and children who spent the own time planting new trees there over the years.

It contradicts every thing about preserving the environment.

It is a crazy idea from the point of view transport in an area already over loaded by the effects of the Northern Development - still unfinished.

The site is a reclaimed tip for goodness sake.

Is it time to start to consider plans for a public demonstration at or near the site?



From : Karen Kent & David Worthy, Sparcells - 25 April 2004

Myself Karen Kent and my partner David Worthy from Kishorn Close Sparcells have this to say about the proposal of the football stadium.

We have been here for just over a year now and would like to say how much we enjoy living here.. the piece and quiet, a friendly neighbourhood and most of all the wildlife which surrounds us. Most evenings we walk through the Shaw Conservation Area and I am amazed at what I seen since I have been here.

We see deer, herons, newts, dragonflies, foxes, owls, badgers, rabbits and lots of different birds including a woodpecker on a regular basis in the Conservation Area. It was only a few weeks ago when we saw a Heron with 3 of its youngsters on the river along the path on the way back from the lake and we have also have seen a Kingfisher along the river bank on one of our many walks.

I have always loved the countryside, I used to live out in the country in Salisbury for a few years, then had to moved to Manchester with the family, it broke my heart moving there, 15 years off heavy traffic, air pollution and no countryside!! And worst of all I lived a 5 minutes walk form Stockport County Football Club it was a nightmare, the traffic was a total grid lock on the days the games were on, there was always trouble with the fans even when the police were looking out for them, and the noise, well it was like being at the match itself.

Then along came an opportunity for me to move back down South and have never looked back once. And now we are settled in this area and hear that a football stadium is being built just over the back of where we live. All I can say we are not happy about, as well as all our neighbours. We don't want this eyesore. So we will do all we can to prevent this from happening.

Please keep us informed of anything we can do to help.



From : Pam Robinson - 25 April 2004

The idea of such a project being built within such a dense housing area is selfish, but obviously someone somewhere stands to make a lot of money if it goes ahead.

I am seriously questioning the silence of SBC given that so much has been printed and said. One wonders who locally will stand to gain financially from this. Not the rate payer that is for sure.

To expect those of us paying council tax to pay for this is preposterous, especially when our pensioners are protesting outside the Houses of Parliament against any increase, some of our local amenities are lacking in care, public toilets are like slums and council care homes close, not to mention the many voluntary organisations which rely on funding from SBC to survive.

Yes we want/deserve some decent sports amenities including a football stadium, but build it where access will be easy for those using the facilities. Perhaps if Bath University decide not to use the site next to Coate, building a sports centre there would be preferable, and easy to access for visiting teams from the motorway and 419.

Any funding should be from the developers and between them and the football club. If Swindon Town Football club can not afford a stadium, can they afford to be in existence at all?

If I had to place my vote, it would be firmly against the development going ahead in any area where people already have difficulty driving to work because of traffic delays. Imagine what it would be like during a match? The McArthur Glenn retail outlet already causes traffic problems along Great Western Way because some bright spark only allowed for a single access road to be built to and from it.



From : Gary, Lisa, Elliot and Jordan Kinsey, Shaw - 26 April 2004

We moved here from London to get away from, buildings, traffic and pollution. On our deeds it says that Mead Way is a quiet lane! We have watched the road get busier over the last few years and the noise level rise along with the pollution. It was great to know that the Shaw Forest was opposite us and made the road running inbetween bearable. We were also told when purchasing the house that nothing would be built on the old dump site. What ever has possessed anyone to think of digging up somewhere were there is a risk of toxic waste being exposed. These people obviously don't live anywhere near here and all they must see are giant pound signs!!

We will fight this all the way. We want our children to enjoy the beauty of the wild life which is beginning to return to the establishing Shaw forest, not worrying what they might develop because of some health risks.



From : The Millward family - 26 April 2004

Dear Team

I was totally devastated to hear what is going to happen to the forest. I will be attending the protest rally at Hillmead on 01/05/2004. If enough people show their dissatisfaction at this proposal, the council just might think again.

Good luck.

Yours sincerely



From : T Dingwall, Peatmoor - 26 April 2004

Regardless of all the views expressed regarding potential health hazards from the possibility of the presence of blue asbestos and other toxic materials, traffic disruption, disruption to a peaceful area of Swindon, destruction of wildlife habitats, a development company making millions from local taxpayers, and a host of other harmful effects, there appears to be one over-riding fact that we must not forget.

We have elected people to represent us at a local, national and European level and they must now take note of and listen to our views. The fact that a decision taken to create a community forest for our children and grandchildren can be reversed, by a stroke of a pen, on a whim, absolutely appals me. Should this happen this is betrayal at it's worst and would leave a traitorous legacy to our future population. We have watched silently as successive governments (national and local) have destroyed our education system, our National Health service, our compassion and care for the elderly and infirm, our justice system, our ability to defend ourselves from oppression and terror, our villages, our countryside, and even our way of life, the list goes on. It is now the time for the 'Silent Majority' to show that they do have a will and a voice. We cannot let elected politicians over-ride our views for a perceived short term gain and a quick political fix. I for one will be at the barricades!



From : Yongsheng Niu - 26 April 2004

The place has been very quite and safe, I do not want it to be changed at all. Those business men are only interested in earning money, they do not really care about others. Swindon council should reject the proposal straight without consideration. What is your interest for the proposal?

Let us talk to the Council leader, MPs, and the Central government and give those people pressure and stop this proposal.



From : Peter Cowdrey, Shaw - 26 April 2004

Yet another ridiculous idea to come out of the Council chambers.

Yes we want a stadium; we all want to see Swindon Town doing well, the added attraction of superb facilities would also do wonders for Swindon as a whole

But, be sensible when identifying a site for such a venture, Shaw Forest Country Park is not he place to site it.

As it has already been stated, just look at the superb facilities down the motorway at Reading, a Stadium that is ideally situated for access to the motorway network.

Be sensible, get it right and let every one benefit; stop keep wasting our money!!



From : Miles - 27 April 2004

I am not against the proposal to build a new stadium per se, but I believe that the proposed location for the complex is not acceptable. On one hand I would like the stadium to be built, I would be able to use quality facilities and enjoy myself, but this would come at a price.

I do not live near the site and do not believe I will be adversely affected by the inevitable noise and light pollution etc. I do however believe that the whole area will be inflicted with an unsustainable volume of traffic if this plan goes ahead. The road infrastructure is simply not up to the job. It is already near or at saturation point during rush hour. It would be much worse if a complex this size is built.

I simply can not believe a plan of this scale is even being considered without a thought for access requirements. A much better site would be the privately owned land near Junction 16 of the M4.

Like many others, I am also concerned about the potential health hazards from the possibility of the presence of blue asbestos and other toxic materials currently laying dormant under the surface of the site. At present the area is a quiet natural one that many people including myself currently use to cycle and relax. If this area is disturbed it may cause health problems for many people. It will be every resident of Swindon who picks up the bill in the form of higher taxes when those affected start to sue the council for compensation.

Further more I agree whole heartedly with the comments of another concerned resident that "we have elected people to represent us at a local, national and European level and they must now take note of and listen to our views. The fact that a decision taken to create a community forest for our children and grandchildren can be reversed, by a stroke of a pen, on a whim, absolutely appals me. Should this happen this is betrayal at it's worst and would leave a traitorous legacy to our future population. We have watched silently as successive governments (national and local) have destroyed our education system, our National Health service, our compassion and care for the elderly and infirm, our justice system, our ability to defend ourselves from oppression and terror, our villages, our countryside, and even our way of life, the list goes on. It is now the time for the 'Silent Majority' to show that they do have a will and a voice. We cannot let elected politicians over-ride our views for a perceived short term gain and a quick political fix".

Thank you for the time you have taken to read my opinion.



From : Mike Rose - 27 April 2004

First of all, I would like to lend my whole-hearted support to stopping this stadium going ahead. I moved into Peatmoor seven years ago because it was a nice quiet area, and because it was so close to the countryside.

I can now see this stadium creating a lot of extra traffic, noise, and the prospect of yobs on the streets of Peatmoor and surrounding areas, particularly when there is a football match being held.

I also object to the fact that Swindon Borough Council have misled us by arranging for the forest to be planted, and also saying that the Shaw landfill site could not be built on 100 years.

It appears to me that Swindon Borough Council wants to build on any spare bit of land they can find. Hasn't the time come to consider the environment instead of finances.

Also, if STFC have to have a new ground, why can't it be built by the motorway junction, which would make it easier to get to, and cause a lot less upheaval for the surrounding areas.

I would also like to suggest that a petition is raised to fight against these plans.

I applaud the Residents Outing on Saturday 1st May, but due to my disability I will be unable to attend, but I shall be popping up to the presentation at Roughmoor Community Hall to see exactly what the plans are, and to raise my objections at the said meeting.



From : Chris Geddes (Ms), Shaw - 27 April 2004

I agree with the views of all the other people, wrong site, poor access, increased traffic, difficult to get too, with the football side in mind, surely it will enable fans to go through the main Town plus residential area's to get to the site, resulting in more police presence in the town which causes extra work for the police, more money to police it and disruption to people shopping in the town and the residential area's the fans pass through.

Surely it would be better to look at putting this village near the new Police station over near South Marston, easy access for the police, easy access for the motorway, easy to "look after visiting fans", they could run buses to pick up fans from the station and straight to the new village, easy access to the hospital.

The local Council gave permission for the hospital to be built over that side of Swindon, so put the new village past it out of everybody's way.

With regard to access of the other facilities the village will offer, the local council assume it is easy to get to the hospital, so getting to the village will be no more difficult!!!!!!!!!!!!



From : Andy Rozycki, Westlea - 27 April 2004

It's probably impossible to come up with another argument against this proposal that hasn't already been mentioned. The arguments I've seen so far are brilliant and if the stadium goes ahead then I'll move away from Swindon, even though I was born here.

I'm not a football supporter, but I do see the need for some kind of sporting arena for Swindon. That includes a stadium and more. We do need skate parks. We need artificial ski slopes. We need rock climbing walls.

But in our eagerness to get such facilities built let's be stupid. Let's not put it slap bang in the midst of a residential area. The roads aren't built for it. And it would not do to change that now either. The residents who moved there do not now expect to see a dual carriageway built alongside their properties.

The stadium and its surrounding facilities needs to be accessed directly off of the M4. The so-called Front Garden actually would have been more suitable than this proposal.

Instead some idiot comes up with yet another stupid idea and the people we've elected give it some credence by actually considering it as a sensible option. Give me strength.

A 22,000 seater stadium will draw probably half that number in cars. This would be aside from the other traffic that would want to use the other facilities. Those other facilities will still be in use even on match days.

Just where is all this traffic supposed to park. I haven't got any detail, but looking at the aerial view, I doubt that 10,000 cars can be accommodated in the parking area that can be seen. And again there will be cars of users of the other facilities. You know for sure that it's the local residents that will suffer in Sparcells and Shaw.

And where will all this traffic travel to get to the stadium. Well most likely it would come straight off the M4 at J16 and down Whitehill Way. So don't worry you residents of Freshbrook, Grange park and Westlea you hadn't been forgotten in the misery to be inflicted.

We moved into West Swindon 18 years ago. At that time we could sit in the garden and hear butterflies flying by. Nowadays there's the noise of a car passing every half second. The road gets pretty busy already, and it's certain it couldn't take much more without grinding to a complete standstill.

The planners exhibit such stupid lack of foresight that it's clear to me that it requires no qualifications for that job. The infrastructure for all these wondrous developments is always superbly inadequate. I wouldn't mind so much if what they did was voluntary, but they actually get paid for there stupidity.

Come the revolution they'll be the first against the wall.

I will support whatever actions are necessary to stop this development going ahead. The councillors are our elected representatives. They are not our masters. They are supposed to act on our behalf, not to spite us.



From : B T Taylor, Peatmoor - 28 April 2004

Shaw Forest - a country park, not a sports centre.

Is nothing safe from the ravages of money grabbing developers? This is OUR forest not some ripe piece of development land. It is for the people of Swindon and others, so hands off!

All in all the plan is ill considered, financially unsound and totally inappropriate for the location. Swindon Borough Council have shown an arrogance and complete contempt for the residents of Swindon in considering a commercial venture on a Community Park.

What next? Perhaps Coate Water will be concreted over for Swindon International Airport



From : Ian Lapraik, Old Town - 28 April 2004

I live in Old Town so I'm not affected by the proposal - no-one can accuse me of being a NIMBY. At least not this time. I'm also not a football supporter so hopefully these comments will be seen as coming from someone who's relatively neutral in this debate.

There have been a lot of suggestions on SwindonLink to build a new stadium/sports complex close to the M4. This is a great idea in principle, but let me suggest a reason as to why it won't happen.

Land with good links to the M4 and development potential has high value. A slightly out of the way brownfield site such as the Shaw Forest Country Park has low (financial) value. STFC is financially pretty badly off, and cannot afford a premium site close to the M4. STFC is also not exactly premiership material at the moment so the possibility of private investment raising the necessary funds for a premium site is pretty remote (unless you know of any ex-Swindon multimillionaire football fans). The Council will be sued if it tries to subsidise a football club. So if STFC wants a new stadium in the current circumstances, it's going to be on a brownfield site.

It seems to me that the management of STFC are hoping that a new stadium will turn the club around (financially as well as on the pitch). My own opinion is that this is the wrong way round - if STFC were turned around first (promotion to the first division, more stable finances for starters), it might be able to attract the private investment necessary for a premium development site. Which would, I hope everyone will agree, be better for all - sports fans, local residents, wildlife.

So my message is, don't attack the NIMBYs, don't criticise the football fans, don't even hurl abuse at the councillors (at least not on this issue); get down to the County Ground and ask the management to find another path to success.



From : Paul Beresford - 30 April 2004

I want it to stay as a park. Things are beautiful as they are. Let's not ruin it!



From : Sue Butler - 30 April 2004

Swindon Council seem to have no long term action plan regarding Swindon - this area of Swindon is mainly residential the council set aside a lovely lake area, however then proceeded to allow cellular operations to build on the side of the lake which is now empty, then they decide to build a corrugated jungle opposite which is appalling and also empty then to top the icing on the cake they decide to build a new stadium next door to a residential area. Are Swindon BC going to compensate those affected, are they going to pay to remove the toxic waste? The council seem to blunder along doing what they want with our money are they going to reduce our council tax? I expect not!

They make increases to the council tax as and when they like, they do not seem to be controlled as gas, electric, water etc are controlled to stop huge increases. The children in the area were also encouraged to plant trees only for them to be dragged out the earth at the whim of the local council - it is certainly not encouraging children to be environmentally friendly and teaching them any values.



From : Jasmine Marsh - 30 April 2004

Hello, my name is Jasmine Marsh and I am 12 years old. I live in Peatmoor I have lived here for 7 years. I do not think the stadium should be built because like me and many of my friends I think it would cause lots of traffic and pollution. My brother age 15 agrees with me and thinks that a football stadium would cause vandalism and noise pollution. Also he thinks that it would create a litter problem as peatmoor doesnt have enough litter bins as it is.

My mum is livid at the prospect of a stadium, not only will it be vandalised, but the council will repair this with money that could go towards more important things. I think that a better way of spending all this money would be to add a youth club to Peatmoor to encourage children to socialise and learn environmental issues.

My dad would also see more for the teenagers like a skate park or something to keep them from just hanging around shops or something.



From : Robert Baylis - 30 April 2004

18 years ago I moved my family to Swindon, believing that they had sensible and understanding council. This has now been devastated by the announcement that they intend to build a new stadium in an area that they designated to be a forest park for ALL to enjoy, not the minority that attend football matches.

Following many promises by the developers of the Shaw Ridge Leisure Complex that they would control "vandalism, noise, litter pollution and general nuisance" none of this appears to have been done.

With yet another leisure complex being considered this can ONLY GET WORSE.



From : Louise Mccalla - 30 April 2004

I do not live in the area of the proposed new stadium, but I was horrified to hear of the plans to destroy a community forest which is a credit to the local residents who helped to create it. This sports village should not be built in any residential area within Swindon.



From : The Lock Family, Westlea - 2 May 2004

I have been on this site for a couple of hours reading the proposals from SBC and the Developers, viewing the plans and reading the for and against comments and I still come up with the same question WHY West Swindon?

I have lived in Swindon for 30 years and have lived all in Gorse Hill, Town Centre, Purton, Stratton, Pinehurst and most recently West Swindon. I cannot believe the amount of construction and development that has taken place over that time, but all too often you see the same happening and then hey presto we have what it takes to get that CITY status - just what SBC have been striving for.

I have noticed a change in the way we work, play and communicate with each other and the way in which our communities have dissolved. Over the years, as new communities move into the heart of the town, local people start to move out or further to the outskirts of the town to try and find the piece and tranquillity we remember having as a child, being able to leave your back door open talking to your neighbours over the fence feeling able to let your kids play out in the streets. Well not any more.

Like technology things need to progress and move forward, but unfortunately this often has a negative effect on those that are working hard and searching let alone paying for to create the same safe, creative but simplistic and enjoyable childhood we once had.

Where can you these days can you go out of your front door and have a green space safe enough for your children to play? Why is the Government so concerned about the fact that, like the Americans we are becoming a bigger burden on the NHS, and young children are becoming TV/Computer mad and more and more children and adults are becoming obese. Why because there are no local green spaces without major roads or the threat of stranger danger and the fact that all to often parents can't afford to pay for themselves or their children to attend or use such facilities that are being imposed on West Swindon residents if this stadium goes ahead. SBC need to look at the trends over the last century and maybe consider going back to basics which was some of what the Shaw Forest was about local people building a forest for local people at the same time getting fresh air and learning about the community in which we live.

This stadium isn't just about local people or the effects on wildlife should the forest be destroyed its about all of the things people have mentioned in their e-mails, but there is a much bigger picture and I feel that we as part of this borough are happy to welcome new communities, friends, productive development, better education facilities such as the university but not at the expense of local people being pushed out of the very community that they as children, their parents and parents before them helped to build and fund so they would have a positive and economical environment in which to live.

Yes I now live in West Swindon that's because of all the places I have lived have been developed, have become more chaotic, traffic congested, less of a community and just plain busy. I now after a long hard week at work look forward to coming home and being able to sit in my garden or have my windows open whilst watching and listening to the birds and the quietness of the area. Who are you to take that from the residents of West Swindon because ultimately it will effect all of West Swindon not just the neighbouring areas such as Shaw, Sparcells, etc. You are infringing our human rights to quiet enjoyment!!!!!

An alternative would be to build the stadium near the Honda building on the A419 with easy access to a J15 of the motorway there is a park and ride bus service which could run buses to the stadium for those that drive or live in Swindon. Town Centre offers a rail service, buses and taxi's are all in easy reach and would be able to transport people to the stadium more effectively. The hospital would be all of 5/10 minutes away should it be needed, it would be near to the planned university so students could access. The Swindon dog racing and speedway is already on the A419 so people who have purchased property in this area are fully a where and tolerate the noise caused. There is plenty of space for the planned development and I think although im not sure this is also brown field site.

I think the stadium is a good idea to keep us in the 21st Century but its got to be in the right place to accommodate the forever growing needs of the up and coming CITY of Swindon. It needs to be accessible for all and cause the minimal amount of disruption to local people. So come on, don't alienate local people. Accommodate and find a more appropriate place to locate the stadium. I am sure we would all welcome the additional jobs and the increase revenue and strength it would bring to Swindon's economy. But don't destroy the developing forest and wildlife. My son was 5 when we planted the first lot of trees with the Pinehurst After School Club in Shaw Forest - he is now 16. We didn't live in West Swindon at the time so this effects more than the West Swindon residents - it effects the whole of Swindon's wider community.

Think on and don't forget previous lesson learnt, such as the Millennium DOME in London........



From : Lorna West, Shaw - 2 May 2004

DON'T RUIN SWINDON. I moved here 5 yrs ago to escape a concrete jungle. I couldn't believe how beautiful the greenery is around Shaw where I live. I have walked my dogs and watched the saplings growing higher as the new forest takes shape. I have watched the Deer and many other wild creatures. This area is not a brown field site it is a green site full of the most wonderful trees, grass, wildlife etc. and we all knew it would not be built on for 100 years.



From : Kaylea Withey - 2 May 2004

Unbeknown to most people, STFC in 2001 had debts upward of £500,000, then in 2002 STFC and St Modwen Properties PLC formed a partnership and called The company Shaw Park Developments Ltd,

During the year 2002 a loan was made to SPD for the sum of £975,000. Therefore the questions that should now be asked are:-

1, What deal was struck between STFC and St Modwen Properties ?

2. Who in STFC knew about St Modwen Developments?

3. Did our esteemed council know about this deal

4. What promises were made by Swindon Council to seal this deal?

I like most Tory Voters have serious doubts at the viability of our Council leader Mike Bawden. This gentleman arrogantly believes he cannot lose his seat in the forthcoming elections, How wrong can he be! 

To date only one or two of our esteemed council have raised their heads above the parapets. However, the only one who came out categorically against it has been Jim DAvila. At least he has the courage of his convictions.

Finally, all of our councillors should come out with public statements either confirming that they are either for or against the project.



From : Emma and Marc Feltham, Toothill - 2 May 2004

What a ridiculous idea - the traffic problems this development would create clearly haven't been thought through.

I for one have no desire to have a bunch of football hooligans making their way through West Swindon - having lived extremely close to the County Ground in the past I know from bitter experience the amount of noise, the traffic and parking problems, and the litter the football "fans" cause.

Also the proposal to build on a former landfill site is clearly ill thought through - the potential problems this could cause shouldn't be overlooked.

As for the implications for wildlife and nature - the people who have made comments about the current state of the area clearly haven't thought about the future - it takes time for an eco-system to establish itself. Please don't undo the good work that's been started.



From : Paul Davies, Peatmoor - 2 May 2004

SBC are always trying to win city status but to be a city (which I don't believe most Swindonians want anyway) requires great leadership and great vision.

The world is fast becoming a clogged, dirty and intimidating place to live - placing a stadium like that proposed at the Shaw site will simply add to this and will do nothing to add to Swindon's bid to be a city - it will be merely another example not to grant city status. It is short-sighted and smacks of money-grabbing.

A new forest on the other hand is a gift to the future inhabitants of Swindon - a place of natural beauty and tranquillity - something that will be in short supply in the future as Swindon gets bigger and bigger.

If 'progress' was so important then why does London have Hyde Park, Regents Park, Green Park etc. The development potential there must be enormous yet their value as green space is incalculable.

STFC fans also need to realise that their precious club is in danger if the finance for this mammoth undertaking falls through - Swindon Town only just survived its last financial crises - will it survive this?

I'm not anti football but I am anti-football-is-all-there-is-to-life.

This stadium should not be built at Shaw Forest - if it needs to be built at all then somewhere near the A419 or M4 is the far more obvious place for it.



From : Sam, Shaw - 2 May 2004

Someone commented to me the other day that Swindon Town Football Club needs a new stadium and it HAS to go somewhere, they off-handedly advised that I should stop being a NIMBY (Not-In-My-Back-Yarder)...

I'm more than happy to suffer inconvenience in and around my home for a worthwhile cause but I'm just waiting for someone to give me a reason why Swindon Town Football Club (a failing business that recently went into administration) is that cause. If a private company is not profitable enough to support itself it should go to the wall - the same should apply to a football club.

Council tax has risen by nearly 40% over the past 3 years in Swindon! I went into to town the other day and sat and watched as a band of twenty or so football supporters' were escorted by almost as many policemen, in addition to numerous police horses (specially brought in from South Wales police), dogs and riot vans to the County Ground. A mere 5 minute walk from the centre of town became a 60 minute parade of badly behaved football supporters shouting their insulting/vile chants and delighting in the need of a police escort to showcase how hard' they were.

My father works for Wiltshire Constabulary and he has advised me that this police time and expense was not funded by the football club but by our taxes - my taxes! I sat there in disgust, sick to my stomach thinking of my well earnt money being thrown down the drain for the minority of fans who are unable to control themselves over a game.

Now the Council want to waste more of our money building a new stadium in a newly created conservation area for the continued pleasure of these people? How can you expect a sane resident of Swindon to support it?!?!

If a new stadium really HAS to go somewhere why not listen to the Swindon town residents for once (football fans and non-supporters)? The new stadium should be built on the land either side of the motorway, following the example set by Reading FC.



From : Lindsay Morgans - 4 May 2004

To Swindon Town Football Club

I am appalled at all of you who think the location at Shaw Tip is the ideal place for a football stadium. I know you would have heard this from many other people who have the same view as myself and family but please bear with me and I hope that this does not fall on deaf ears.

We have lived in West Swindon for 23 years and been very happy. We've always like living over this side of Swindon where it's nice and quiet and we can even hear the birds singing...what a joy :)

Yes it is a quiet "residential" community and we have chosen to live here for that exact reason, along with all the others in this area. If the stadium was here from day one of the Western Expansion, people could choose if they wanted to live in traffic chaos, street parking, lager louts, fighting, swearing, damage to property, hyped up insurance premiums, police helicopters, the roar of fans cheering, floodlights - but when we were here first and like to hare the birds singing along with peace and quiet, we do not want that to change.

The traffic from Junction 16 all the way along to Meads Way is going to be a nightmare with visiting fans etc.

No, we do not want it in my backyard - and not in ANY ONES BACK YARD! Is that so difficult for you to understand?

Do what they have done at Reading, have some common sense and decency and put it by either the M4 15/16 junction of the motorway. At least there you won't be disrupting thousands of peoples lives. Are you really that selfish to think of all this as a money making venture. We people around West Swindon and surrounding areas deserve the right of peace and quiet. I bet none of you live in this area and really couldn't give a monkeys about us over here - that's the impression you give. Selfish.

I actually wonder if I get a response from you - a personal one, not a standard one that would normally be sent out.



From : John Forster-Heatlie, Wroughton - 6 May 2004

I am not a resident of Sparcells or Peatmoor, but I fully agree with your protest against the stadium and any extra add-on's to be built on the Forest.

Perhaps it is about time, that our illustrious leaders in the council chamber, had their attention brought to Article 26 of its Agenda 21 policy which lays out the council's statutory obligations. The council has agreed and has assigned the area as a country park. This alone should stop any development.

You have my full backing against this development.



From : Louise Mitchell, Westlea - 7 May 2004

I have lived in Westlea for over 6 years and moved there because it is a lovely area with quiet green areas to walk and relax and now I fear for my peace!!

When the stadium is built, even as far away as I am next to ASDA I am certain that I will still hear the noise and suffer the effects of the extra pollution brought about by the extra traffic. Not to mention that when I go for a walk to the community forest area I always see wildlife. Just on the May bank holiday weekend when walking to the Oasis we saw a deer peacefully grazing, and I have seen many rabbits, wild birds and foxes; I am quite sure that there are badgers living there too.

We have little enough green areas left in Swindon and I think it is a tragedy that another one will be bulldozed in favour of a noisy polluting stadium. I think it would be better situated on the outskirts of Swindon, but I fear that no amount of opposition will help as the plans seem to already be in motion.



From : Nicky Jeffrey - 17 May 2004

I am one of the very concerned residents that was at the proposals, the protest and am hoping to organise a petition at Asda. I along with very many friends am deeply concerned not only at the outrageous betrayal of the Council but feel very strongly that a complex of this size has no place in any residential area.

It should be on the outskirts of the town so that all of Swindon's residents can enjoy it and no-one has to suffer by living in its shadow. Only one parking space per 15 seats of the stadium has been allocated for, to say nothing of the people visiting all the other amenities going to be present there.

It seems residents of Shaw, Nine Elms, Peatmoor and Sparcells are going to have to pay for residents permits to enjoy what they currently do for free, i.e. park outside their own homes.

As far as I can tell no-one is against the proposal per se, just that it is far too large a complex to be put in the middle of a peaceful residential area.



From : Maurice Rowlandson - 20 May 2004

My family and I are the 'new boys on the block.' We moved to Peatmoor from Wembley - just one and a quarter miles from Wembley Stadium. We lived there for five horrendous years.

In all weathers the noise from the stadium was considerable. On those days when the wind was blowing in our direction, the football (pop concert etc) crowds might just as well have been across the road. One and a quarter miles was no insulation whatsoever from the Stadium noise. Some noise followed the crowd out of the stadium, and it was not unusual to have large groups of singing, shouting, fighting groups of fans gathered outside our home into the late hours of the evening - or late into the night, when there were evening matches.

There was adequate parking at Wembley but, because of the car parking charges, most people parked in the roads around. For an area well beyond us (probably up to two and a half miles away), every available kerbside space was taken up with audience cars. They parked on corners; they parked on driveways; they parked on verges and some even had the temerity to park actually in a private driveway. We often had to call the police to get a car moved to enable us to get out of our garage. For an afternoon match, parked cars started to arrive around 8am in the morning, and the congestion built up from then.

Then there was the litter problem. Beer cans; McDonalds boxes; paper bags; condoms; food scraps; paper cups; newspapers; programmes. All were littered everywhere - because there were no rubbish bins outside the Stadium area. It was usually two to three days before the local Council had cleared up the mess.

Finally there is the congestion problem. Wembley had wide roads, and many exit routes. From the time the match finished until two hours afterwards, all of those routes were congested and jammed. This all added to the pollution of the atmosphere which was often 'thick' with exhaust fumes over a wide area. We never drove anywhere on a Match afternoon. Wembley had an adjacent tube station, and streams of supporters blocked the roads from the tube station to the Stadium. Where foot passengers would arrive for the Shaw Stadium, I do not know. But if they are coming into Swindon Station, there will be pedestrian blockage for a lot of the town.

If you are a waverer - doubt no more! A new stadium at Shaw may be good for football - and I hope they get their new stadium, but in the right place. However, it would be bad for Shaw and ALL the surrounding districts, and don't let those in Swindon Town Centre think that they would escape. Not a hope! Have a stadium; make it a nice worthy stadium; let football be proud of the facilities - BUT NOT IN SHAW!



From : Revd Stephen Skinner, Team Rector of West Swindon & the Lydiards - 26 May 2004

Since my earlier e-mail to you many weeks ago, I have listened to various arguments about the pros and cons about whether the basic plans for building a Stadium in Shaw should be supported.

I have now changed my position, and I am now against the building of the Stadium complex there. This is mainly because I believe that the forest is valued highly by many people, and should be left to grow untouched and thrive as a place of beauty. It needs a lot more promotion and to be regarded as a place for peace and contemplation, and also a place for wildlife to thrive.

Secondly because the road congestion & disruption throughout West Swindon when big events would take place would be massive, whatever road improvements are promised.

I feel a new stadium is best placed near the motorway, perhaps round the back of the Hilton in the fairly dead and uninspiring area of 'Lydiard Fields'. There it could have its own motorway access, ensuring no further traffic build up at the motorway junction. Several hotels are already in this area, and some warehouses deserted at present.

Please let me know if I or people in Shaw Church 'Eco-congregation' can help the campaign in any way.



From : Sharon Charity - 27 May 2004

No-one who held their breath for Swindon Town in the penalty shoot-out against Brighton would want to deny the club a new stadium for the 21st Century. New leisure facilities are vital for Swindonšs future. Itšs ironic, therefore, that the place being looked at as a site for this new facility is a future forest planted by local people in all weathers and in good faith.

The plan to build over the Shaw Forest Country Park is about more than trees. Itšs about people, politics and promises.

Over the past five years thousands of Swindon people have joined in mass tree-plantings as part of the Great Western Community Forest. They were encouraged to do so by Swindon Borough Council, and they believed they were planting saplings that their children could grow up with. Some of the trees were planted in memory of a loved one. On June 5th some of these people will be marching to protest against building on green spaces in Swindon.

The Community Forest, with support from all political parties and every section of the community, showed that a 21st Century Swindon wouldnšt be a concrete nightmare. It would be a living community, with green spaces and corridors for wildlife flourishing among new homes and schools.

Just imagine if the 46,000 trees planted on the Shaw Forest site were to be ripped up to build the new stadium. What message would that send to the people who planted them? Would people ever again be willing to give up their time to plant trees for the future of Swindon?

This is not a NIMBY argument. To oppose building on Shaw Forest isnšt the same as opposing all growth in Swindon - and in my view it is a mistake to bundle it in with the Front Garden and Coate developments, both of which have other issues at stake. Swindon will continue to grow in the 21st Century, and along with new houses it must have new schools, swimming pools, and a top-quality football ground.

But it will only be a town - or city - to be proud of, if it also has a thriving community spirit, with people willing to give up their time to protect their local green spaces.



From : Thomas and Claire Quirke - 7 June 2004

We would like to register our complete disapproval of the plan to build a stadium on Swindon Forest. The few natural assets that Swindon is fortunate to possess are being destroyed by the reckless actions of this council. Are there any plans to apply pressure to the council?



From : Dr. Angela Mak, Shaw - 8 June 2004

The proposal to develop a stadium on the site of the Shaw Community Forest is appalling and should be dropped immediately.

Thankfully we live in a town where planners have had the vision to combine residential areas with a multitude of leisure facilities and green areas with foot/cycle paths to ensure places for relaxation, exercise and a peaceful escape. Towns that have failed to create and preserve such spaces have done so to their cost. How can the council consider a development on land promised to the people of Swindon as a Community Forest Park?

Many people in West Swindon joined in community tree planting days as encouraged by the council, with hope for their children's future in this locality. We either planted saplings that would grow with our children or in memory of loved ones. Do the council have the right to break this promise of a community forest? And if they do, who will trust them again?

My greatest concern is allowing disturbance of the landfill site and all the health risks this will entail. Brownfield sites are not available for domestic housing developments precisely because of the known hazards associated with these soils. Landfill sites are a Pandora's box of toxic waste; residents of West Swindon are not prepared to be exposed to such a health risk. I am especially horrified to think that my children and the rest of Swindon's young people could be subjected to these invisible dangers prior to becoming parents themselves, from the very site which they were promised as their heritage.

Most alarmingly, records of the types of waste buried under the country park are missing (1) but a superintendent of the Barnfield Road Incinerator Plant (from 1975 - 1991) recalls sending toxic waste to the tip, including large quantities of blue asbestos from the town's decommissioned railway works.'(2)

Asbestos is a known potent carcinogen (3), whose fibres do not break down even over long periods of time. Once they are disturbed the fibres can be released in to the air and inhaled in to the lungs causing severe damage. Landfill sites produce methane gas, and as such have extraction wells or outlet vents for the gas. However, if building occurs over such a site, this can disturb the normal outlets and has to be taken in to consideration in building design. Developers need to provide methane extraction wells and monitors inside buildings to sound an alarm when the levels climb too high! Here is a disturbing extract from a Tampa Bay on-line journal, USA,(4): 'Dumps can hold such perils as migrating pockets of explosive methane gas; settling garbage that can cause buildings to slide off their foundations or sink. Methane gas caus