After 8 years of endless talk, talk, and yet more talk from the failing Labour Government, the Labour MP for North Swindon has highlighted the need to tackle the issue of deprevation in pockets of North Swindon.

 

We could not agree more, and in response the Conservative Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr David Renard (Haydon Wick) has written the following letter for the Swindon Advertiser focusing on Conservative Action:

 

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Dear Sir,

 

I was amazed to read Michael Wills' views that this Council is doing nothing for people in deprived areas and that none of the 50 Promises dealt with such issues.

 

Promise 39 involves the regeneration of the areas he refers to. In the next 4 years we will redevelop: Cavendish Square (starting Spring 2006), Shaftesbury Avenue, Braydon Court, Marlowe Avenue and Sussex Square.

 

Promise 13 ensures that all our tenants will live in homes that meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard. We will meet this two years ahead of schedule in 2008. Beyond that, we will be delivering further improvements, in partnership with tenants, to raise their living standards further.

 

Promise 42 commits the Council to delivering more affordable housing. This is already happening and more are to come - an average of 300 per year until 2010. All these promises will raise the quality of life for people living in these areas.

 

In addition to these promises, we have extended the Wardens' scheme to West Swindon and the Railway Village, there was the recent clear-up in the Pinehurst area and on top of all this millions of pounds are being spent on repairs and maintenance in these areas. The Council's previously failing Benefits Service is now vastly improved with the most vulnerable receiving a much better service.

 

Further projects are in the pipeline. This Council is now working on behalf of the whole Town and delivering good-value-for-money improvements in services for all. If Michael Wills feels we should be doing more, I hope that he will accept the Leader's invitation to sit down with us to discuss further initiatives.

 

Cabinet Member for Housing