Commitment, enthusiasm and interest are three of the vitamins that sustain the Community’s engagement in the Project at Broadgreen. Fifteen meetings over fifteen months and the attendance levels remain consistently high. The reasons for this successful engagement are varied, but can be summed up in the phrase ‘Common Purpose’. Everyone who lives, works or visits the area wants to see both the environmental and social improvements which the Project is delivering.

‘Out with the Old’ and ‘In with the New’ clearly describe the changes that are taking place during the summer of 2007. Engineering work to upgrade the original Victorian drainage system in the narrow alleyways behind the terraced houses will dramatically reduce the risk of flooding. The introduction of pedestrian lighting will further enhance the amenity of the alleyways and act as a powerful deterrent to antisocial behaviour which has for too long blighted the life of local residents.

Radical change also in Gladstone Street and Salisbury Street, where following much robust discussion over many months between residents and engineers, the existing traditional pavements and asphalt road surface will be replaced with a single surface of ‘block paving’ and the car parking formation changed from ‘in line’ to ‘fishbone’ and only on one side of the street. Appropriate planting of small trees and shrubs will soften the whole appearance of both streets.

The radical changes were only made possible following widespread acceptance that the community’s priority to preserve existing car parking capacity would restrict structural changes in Ponting Street and Graham Street.  However both of those streets will enjoy improved amenity with some traffic speed control and softening with greenery.

Implementing these improvements will bring disruption to the daily life of residents for some months, but everyone recognises the simple fact that no such work has been carried out in the 100 years since the Broadgreen Neighbourhood was created on a ‘green field’ site at the edge of Swindon’s town centre. Sustained community engagement in the project has seen respect and trust develop between residents, statutory bodies and developers which have ensured Broadgreen is now part of the much wider plan to regenerate the whole of the town centre.  Truly a situation that will make the quality of life for residents of Broadgreen ~ ‘Better for All’.

Key Contacts:

Gwillam Lloyd
Project Leader
4th Floor Premier House
Station Road
Swindon SN1 1TZ

Sylvie Grasso
Project Manager
4th Floor Premier House
Station Road
Swindon SN1 1TZ
Email: sgrasso@swindon.gov.uk

John Taylor MBE
Community Support Worker
Mob: 07766368324
Email: jtaylor@swindon.gov.uk

Useful links:

www.streetsforliving.net

http://www.broadstreet.ik.com