west Swindon 5
Mcigcizine
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To Bowl or not to Bowl
No. 79 October 1988
Poor service to the disabled at superstore - claim
The question of whether a bowling alley is to be built in West West Swindon's Gateway superSwindon has been answered. It will be built according to Michael store is being criticised by a perOldrieve, Acquisitions Manager for Bristol based Carter Commer- son with a disability, only a few cial Developments. weeks before a multi-million A 32 lane ten-pin Superbowl forms a major part of an ambitious pound refurbishment is comleisure park' on the Shaw Ridge site owned by Thamesdown Coun- pleted. cil, opposite the Link Centre. There will be a 10 screen multiplex Linda Beck, of Liskeard Way, cinema, hotel, night club, restaurant and fast food outlet. Freshbrook, who is confined to a However developers with an interest in the old British Rail Engi- wheelchair, has been getting neering site in the town centre are keen to see a bowling alley in that very frustrated with the treatlocation. They claim Swindon cannot support two such schemes. ment of people with disabilities. They have also declared that they want to negotiate with the Council and Carters to try and stop the West Swindon project. Borough Council officers specified a range of developments that could take place on the Shaw Ridge site. Following agreement by the Council's development subcommittee, where a choice between several submitted proposals was made, council officers have worked closely with Carter Commercial on modifications to the plans. The site will also contain 1,000 car parking spaces and will be extensively landscaped to minimise intrusion on housing at Locobus coffee and chat with the neighbours in Sparcells Eastleaze closeby. "The Shaw Ridge Leisure Park People in West Swindon's most used to meet in our front rooms, will offer a range of integrated isolated corner are being brought but there are too many of us now facilities of a high quality," said together on a double-decker bus. to do that. "We've done a quick count Swindon's mobile community Mr. Oldrieve. "The location is right to serve West Swindon centre - The Locobus - is visiting around and we know there are people, the population of Th- Sparcells, the area's northern already forty children under five. amesdown and the surrounding outpost for an eight week period. We need a community hut for a At present, there are about 200 playgroup very soon." area." Nina Hawkins of Sparcells A Thamesdown spokesperson houses occupied. By foot it is a said that the bowling alley was a two mile trek to Shaw Village Drive is concerned about the isolation of the area. "We're really fundamental part of the overall Centre and its three by car. Every Friday morning the bus quite cut off up here; not everyscheme for Shaw Ridge and no change in the overall plans was is parked on Sparcells Drive. body has a car." The Friday bus group is invitResidents have been taking the envisaged. A planning application for the chance to get together over coffee ing speakers to explain what is project is expected to be put be- to discuss what the area needs. proposed for the area. These fore Thamesdown Council's Better bus services and a tempo- include representatives from Planning Committee in Novem- rary community centre are just Thamesdown Transport, the Borough Councils development ber. Construction work is ex- two of their requirements. Elaine Munday of Rinsdale section and a local councillor. pected to start early in 1989 with the first elements completed by Close says the Locobus has come They are keen to meet other at the right time. "A few of us people living in Sparcells. mid-1990.
Place to meet on mobile centre
"I'm not very happy. I know that changes are taking place, but the wheelchair checkout, has been out of action for weeks and the disabled sign has been removed. "1 always ask to use the disabled check-out. But I'm told that if I ask for help, my shopping will be taken through the checkout, and I have to be pushed out through the entrance to pick it up on the other side. "I used to be able to take items off the shelves. Now, a lot of the things I need are placed above the freezer cabinets and I have to ask others for help. "I'm not impressed by the quality of the fruit and veg. either. I've taken back lots of items recently and people I know have done the same. Carrefour used to have much higher standards. People with cars can go elsewhere. But there are many in West Swindon without a choice." Improvements Gateway Manager Leslie Lloyd said he was very sympathetic to the needs of the disabled and was sorry for the inconvenience caused by the refitting. "The work has been going on for nine months and will be finished by mid-November. "New electronic tills have just been installed, but nearly all the old tills were permanently put out of action when the main power supply blew up a few weeks ago. It didn't help things. "I'm afraid all superstores keep goods at a high level nowadays, and I am expecting the quality of the fruit and vegeege tables to improve dramatically after we relaunch in November. "The fresh produce department has been moved three times. With new storage and display equipment, we will be able to offer our customers the best possible service."