Ardiles
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« on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 10:27:36 » |
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Is anyone else a little surprised at the details emerging from the Coate development enquiry?
Adver: Coate enquiry story
I don't fully understand what's going on here, but it seems the siting of a university on land to the side of Coate Water is a done deal. Seems a shame to me. A town centre site would do so much more for Swindon. |
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Batch
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« Reply #1 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 10:31:27 » |
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I'll give them £2 for the site. But I want the CG thrown in too.
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Summerof69
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« Reply #2 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 10:38:54 » |
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Sounds like a Government quango has got involved here, and sold it despite the council not want anything there.
I'm sure Paul D will have a few thoughts on this !!!
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jayohaitchenn
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« Reply #3 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 10:41:01 » |
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I'm all for it.
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LucienSanchez
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Is this hospital called St. Croc of Shit?!
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« Reply #4 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 10:51:32 » |
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A university in the town would be good. The campus itself doesnt really need to be in the centre, so that doesnt bother me. I dont see why Coate and some development can't ive in harmony  |
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Ardiles
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« Reply #5 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 10:53:38 » |
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I'm all for it.
But why? There's a site on offer at North Star which, despite the noises being made by those involved in the Coate development, is infinitely better connected. The town centre and railway station (which many students would rely on) are both within walking distance. I simply can't understand why Swindon keeps pushing development to the outskirts - like it has been doing for decades now. It's the hollow doughnut effect. Retail villages and leisure centres on all points of the compass while the heart of the town decays. What is desperately needed is proper investment in the town centre. Develop a campus at North Star and you would bring thousands of students in to the town itself. Bars, restaurants, bookshops, arts facilities - they would all improve. Coate is nearly 4 miles out of town, and a campus there would do nothing for the town. Swindon has ignored its town centre for too long...and it shows. |
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LucienSanchez
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« Reply #6 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 12:02:33 » |
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I might be missing something here, but aren't the council selling the land off for a quid? Yet they complain about being skint and having to put council tax up?
How does that work?
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We made a promise we swore we'd always remember... no retreat, baby, no surrender
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chalkies_shorts
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« Reply #7 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 12:10:34 » |
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If we put aside the argument of whether there should be a development at Coate then you've really got to applaud our Council. Instead of having a class university like Bath on our doorstep we now get UWE. Bath were going to relocate thier medical faculty so they could work with GWH.
Thats a class bit of business SBC - congratulations.
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pauld
Aaron Aardvark
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Absolute Calamity!
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« Reply #8 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 14:43:26 » |
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I might be missing something here, but aren't the council selling the land off for a quid? Yet they complain about being skint and having to put council tax up?
You're missing the words "would" and "if" - the developers are proposing that the council sell them the land for a quid, the council are opposed to it as they now favour a town centre campus. And as I've pointed out countless times before, the university is a complete red herring in this - it's purely a Trojan horse (yes, I know that's a horrible mixed metaphor) for 2000+ houses and yet another couple of business parks which is what the developers actually want to build. But they're prepared to throw in a mini-Uni campus to sweeten the deal. |
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Rich Pullen
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« Reply #9 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 14:59:58 » |
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When I was at college in Chippenham 6 years ago people came in and pitched a "would you go to a university in Swindon?" Most said no.
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Ardiles
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« Reply #10 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 15:07:16 » |
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If they had asked 'Would you go to a university on the edge of Swindon, next to a motorway junction and bugger all else?' the response would have been even worse, I'm sure.
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LucienSanchez
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Is this hospital called St. Croc of Shit?!
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« Reply #11 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 15:15:30 » |
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You're missing the words "would" and "if" - the developers are proposing that the council sell them the land for a quid, the council are opposed to it as they now favour a town centre campus.
And as I've pointed out countless times before, the university is a complete red herring in this - it's purely a Trojan horse (yes, I know that's a horrible mixed metaphor) for 2000+ houses and yet another couple of business parks which is what the developers actually want to build. But they're prepared to throw in a mini-Uni campus to sweeten the deal.
Okay... so why would anyone with any intelligence consider selling £44m worth of land for a quid? |
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We made a promise we swore we'd always remember... no retreat, baby, no surrender
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magicroundabout
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« Reply #12 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 15:17:46 » |
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ha ace.
my company are working on the travel plans and access routes for this development etc.
i'm been creating plans all week for the reports which have gone to this enquiry.
coolio
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Arriba
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« Reply #13 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 15:53:33 » |
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why dont the develop the land to the rear of the old oakfield school instead? dodgy dealings going on
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ron dodgers
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shaddap your face
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« Reply #14 on: Thursday, February 12, 2009, 16:09:27 » |
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isn't the quid deal between SGP and UWE and aren't there 5 owners of the land that SGP have a deal with?
I suppose they would be looking at setting up a campus a bit like Bath for example or like Essex outside Colchester - North Star and Oakfield might be on the weeny side.
It would be better if the main campus of UWE would be in Swindon but it looks like it isn't going to be - never mind it was a nice idea
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