24/09/07 - Goddard Avenue Street Party Wins Support

Swindon Conservatives were delighted to lend their support to an unusual and welcome  event on Saturday 22nd September.  Swindon Climate Action Network (SCAN) ran a Streets For People event, which involved the closure of Goddard Avenue in Old Town  for several hours. Instead of the usual “rat runners” and the noise of accelerating vehicles taking advantage of this long, straight road, there was a street party with music, house stalls, bike races and a barbeque. 

Council Leader Cllr Rod Bluh was on hand to give his warm support to the initiative, and ward Councillors Mike Bawden and Brian Mattock were there too.  South Swindon's Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Robert Buckland was also enjoying the atmosphere.

Said Robert: "People were making the most of a lovely day, and I was able to get an impression of how wide and spacious the Avenue must have looked in the days prior to mass car ownership."

He added: "I was interested to see that the Council and Halcrow had brought details of the Okus and Old Town Traffic and Transport Study to a street stall. There is no doubt that much more can be done to alleviate the problems being experienced by local residents.  A solution based upon detailed evidence from local residents must be achieved as a result of this process".