PRESS  RELEASE      -     JUDICIAL  REVIEW  OF  CONDITION  99

Local campaigners led by CPRE Wiltshire Branch and a representative from the Lydiard Tregoz Parish Council have issued  HIGH COURT PROCEEDINGS against Swindon Borough Council’s (S.B.C.) decision to discharge Condition 99 in relation to the Front Garden development.

Condition 99 is  critical to the feasibility of the tunnel route (via Hay Lane/Wharf Road and then J16/M4) to give access from the new development into West Swindon.

A rail bridge route (the Southern Relief Road) that was originally proposed and favoured by local people was rejected by Swindon Borough Council (SBC) when it granted itself permission for the development, including the tunnel, in 2005.

ANNE HENSHAW -CHAIRMAN OF THE C.P.R.E. NORTH WILTSHIRE AND SWINDON GROUP  says :
'WE BELIEVE THAT BY DISCHARGING CONDITION 99, SBC WILL COMPROMISE THE SAFETY OF JUNCTION 16.   They have ignored the reasonable alternative proposals put to them and chosen to create a situation which will be HAZARDOUS, COMPLEX AND HOSTILE TO EVERYONE.   The facts speak for themselves – the junction has insufficient width to meet the needs of all, especially public transport, pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable users.’

MOLLIE GROOM – LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OF WILTSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL       –         says :
‘W.C.C. is the local highway authority and when the Cabinet rejected the proposals for Junction 16,  IT SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT CONDITION 99 SHOULD NOT BE DISCHARGED BY S.B.C..  Although I am the local county councillor and not the spokesperson for Wiltshire County Council, I PERSONALLY FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW SBC PROPERLY COULD HAVE REACHED SUCH A DECISION.’ 

GEOFF YATES – RESIDENT OF WOOTTON BASSETT AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF LYDIARD TREGOZ PARISH COUNCIL (WHERE HE LIVED FOR MANY YEARS) AND ALSO PART OF THE CLAIM -     says : ‘There are TERRIBLE JAMS AT RUSH HOUR already between Wootton Bassett and J16 with rat runs in the villages.  SBC’s proposals will MAKE THE JAMS MUCH WORSE, compromise the safety of J16, and do nothing for the benefit of public transport, pedestrians, cyclists and others.   This is a TYPICALLY ARROGANT ATTITUDE OF SBC NOT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CONCERNS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE J16 AREA, NOR CLIMATE CHANGE..

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The Claim in the Judicial Review lodged in the High Court in London initially seeks a ruling that the SBC’s decision to discharge Condition 99 was arguably unlawful.  An initial response could be made this summer.

See the web-site   Anyone interested in joining the campaign can join on the web –please remember ‘every person counts’

 

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NOTES TO EDITORS

First attachment – CONDITION 99. < see HERE >

Second attachment – EXTRACT FROM BRIEFING NOTE TO MOLLIE GROOM (WCC) RE CONDITION 99 < see HERE >

Discharge of Condition 99 of SO2/2000/MWT of April 2008.  See www.swindon.gov.uk

CONTACTS
ANNE HENSHAW – Chairman of CPRE North Wilts & Swindon Group
Email:  anne@henshawfamily.fsnet.co.uk   telephone:  01249 817003

MOLLIE  GROOM – County Councillor
Email:  mollie.millicent@talktalk.net – telephone:   01793 770544

GEOFF YATES – Vice Chairman Lydiard Tregoz Parish Council, resident of Wootton Bassett
Email: prnuk@aol.com – telephone: -01793 851586