Friends of the earth

[Peter Venkman]

Never trust a hippy
Cos I love punky Bambi
I'll kill to find the killer
Of this rotten roll army.

[pauld]

So, apart from being on a general wind-up, precisely what is it about FoE and Jean Saunders that annoys you Sippo? You got shares in Persimmon or something and you're annoyed they won't let you destroy Coate for the sake of your profits? Or just a general unfocused rage against people who'd quite like us to have an environment?

[Colin Todd]

The Coate thing is a lot of bollocks.  There are no plans to destroy it, just build round one of the edges of it.

[Sippo]

They're just do gooders. Yes we have to save the environment. But this morning she was moaning about lorries on the road and that there are so many of them. They are doing a service for the country. They are moving goods and essentials.

I know nothing about Coate so can't comment on that side, but I have shares in bovis homes!!  Not really

[herthab]

They're just do gooders. Yes we have to save the environment. But this morning she was moaning about lorries on the road and that there are so many of them. They are doing a service for the country. They are moving goods and essentials.

I know nothing about Coate so can't comment on that side, but I have shares in bovis homes!!  Not really

Yeah, but I expect she cycles everywhere and grows her own lentils............

[Colin Todd]

They're just do gooders. Yes we have to save the environment. But this morning she was moaning about lorries on the road and that there are so many of them. They are doing a service for the country. They are moving goods and essentials.

I know nothing about Coate so can't comment on that side, but I have shares in bovis homes!!  Not really

that arguement always amazes me. Do any FOTE people have any better suggestions for moving goods round the counrty other than "put all the freight onto our fantastic and cheap rail system"? Of course once it gets to the nearest town it then needs to be moved to its final destination by road anyway, and it would put the cost of virtually everything up.

I get the impression that the environmentalists wont be happy til we end up back at the horse and cart. The worst thing is I actually try and do my bit within reason by recylng etc, i hate waste and inefficiency.

[pauld]

The Coate thing is a lot of bollocks.  There are no plans to destroy it, just build round one of the edges of it.

Which would destroy the SSSI, the wildlife habitat the SSSI status depends on, and the whole concept of Coate as a country park - it would become a big lake surrounded by yet another new-build housing estate and business park. Both of which, of course, we're desparately short of in Swindon, whereas we can't spit without hitting underused green spaces 

<nimby alert>I should declare an interest - I live in the area that would be affected/devastated. Although the developers' plans are so well-researched, at the last public inquiry, they didn't even know the row of houses where we live existed and so were unsure whether they'd need to demolish it</nimby alert>

[Colin Todd]

Coate never has been a country park though has it?  its a lake on the edge of a big town, near a motorway and a major A road.

[pauld]

Coate never has been a country park though has it?

http://www.swindon.gov.uk/leisuresport/parksandgardens/leisure-parkscoatewater.htm

Coate Water Country Park

Yes, it always has been. That's why people go there, because of the rural setting, and it's how it was always envisaged from when the land was donated. It's also a major wildlife habitat and an SSSI, both of which would be utterly destroyed by the proposed development. But feel free to keep restating "Oh, no, it's not" - you never know, maybe if you repeat incorrect assumptions often enough, they'll become true.

[Colin Todd]

Yes its clearly designated as a Country Park.  I can read signs.

I'm saying that its not really a counrty park based on its location on the edge of a big town, near a motorway and a major A road. Walking round there I never think "oooh I'm in the middle of the counryside miles from anywhere"

Dont get me wrong I like the place, I just dont see how building houses between there and the hospital is going to spoil it really.

[pauld]

Dont get me wrong I like the place, I just dont see how building houses between there and the hospital is going to spoil it really.

You need to look at the plans then. Assuming you can find a coherent set - like I say, the developers don't seem to have much of clue.

You may not feel it has a rural setting, a lot of people who use it do. As it stands, you get a magnificient view up to the downs from most locations within the park (and I'm assuming here you do more than just walk in, stand by the lake and walk out again, although the view's pretty good from there as well). Now imagine that same view with a 2500-strong housing estate AND a business park AND associated facilities (pubs, shops, school etc) in the middle. Not quite the same is it?

Plus you're consistently ignoring the fact that it's actually an important wildlife area, which would be wholly destroyed by the development. That would also have knock-on effects on many of the surrounding areas as it also acts as a migration route for wildlife travelling around the eastern fringes which would be completely blocked.

Just because you (apparently) don't use the park and surrounding area to it's full potential and so don't appreciate its value, doesn't mean it doesn't have that value and doesn't mean it wouldn't be missed if it went. Even by those who don't currently realise what that value is

[Colin Todd]

Paul you are being a busybody again arnt you?

[herthab]

Paul you make a compelling argument.

But am I the only one who thinks that if the lake was drained it would make a brilliant skateboard park?

[pauld]

Paul you are being a busybody again arnt you?

Erm, yes. Hands up, you've got me

[pauld]

Paul you make a compelling argument.

But am I the only one who thinks that if the lake was drained it would make a brilliant skateboard park?

Oooh, hadn't thought of that. Fuck it, where's me concrete mixer and elbow pads?