Swindon People Together on Planning deliver pre-election jolt to council

Protesting to preserve Swindon's open spaces for future generations

They marched from the east to oppose the University of Bath building on green belt land next to Coate Water, they strode in from the west to object to a stadium for Swindon Town FC being built on Shaw Forest Country Park, and they were joined in the middle by those who don't want development of the Front Garden, as well as the New Mechanic's Institution Trust, who want to see the derelict eyesore in the town centre returned to community use.

Around 1,000 people of all ages arrived in front of the Civic Offices on 5 June to express their frustration with the council's apparent willingness to allow development on green areas in and around the town.

Julia Drown, MP for South Swindon, told the protesters she supported the football club and its aspirations for an up to date venue but said, "the people of this town value their open spaces and you are making it clear to the borough council that the development on Shaw forest cannot go ahead. The supporters of the different protests are using the democratic process to make your views heard and I would encourage you to continue doing so."

Save Coate campaigner Mark Wheaver, said, "we're only here because we love our green spaces. There is no point in rushing to develop Swindon if it destroys the reason for being here - why break a Faberge egg to make a concrete omelette?"


Front garden Action Group organiser Terry King fight against development in the front garden was not over yet. "This march has woken people up to realising what a planning shambles we have in this town. Council decision making should be based on people's wishes and not on money.

Martha Parry of the New Mechanics Institution Preservation Trust told the crowd that returning the building to community use was about the quality of life in Swindon and the sustainability of its culture.

After the event STOP alliance organiser Alan Hayward, from the Swindon Forest Protection Group, said, "there is terrific concern at the threat to our town from over-development. We have delivered a message to sitting councillors and the election candidates that our green areas have to be preserved for all the people of the town, for our children and grandchildren and not sold for commercial gain.

"We hope that the councillors who have supported these campaigns remember to keep their word after the elections, as the electorate will remember today and we do not want any more broken promises."

Click here for pictures from the STOP protest march on 5 June.