News from Gary Sumner - your councillor for the Ridgeway Ward

Ward Boundary Review: The Boundary Commission has published a consultation on proposed changed to Borough ward boundaries. Current proposals include a new Ridgeway & Chiseldon Ward with two members (which I think is positive and formed my party’s proposal. We are two similar communities and the increases in population with the growth of the New Eastern Villages in years to come makes this necessary.

You can have your say at https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/swindon

a ten week consultation begins on the LGBCE draft recommendations. If you would like to explore the draft recommendations, you can do so by visiting https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/swindon. Interactive pages give access to the full recommendations They allow people to explore maps of the proposals in greater detail and make comments. LGBCE also accept comments:

by email reviews@lgbce.org.uk

by post The Review Officer (Swindon)

LGBCE

PO Box 133

Blyth

NE24 9FE

Congratulations to Danny Kruger MP who was elected as our new MP in East Wiltshire.

His contact email is:danny.kruger.mp@parliament.uk

New recycling collections:

Additional new blue recycling bags for plastics/cans can now be ordered online (for free) as well as additional recycling boxes using the following link: https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20015/bins_rubbish_and_recycling/1319/changes_to_waste_and_recycling_collections

Food waste caddies came with a limited supply of biodegradable bags but you can purchase additional ones very cheaply at supermarkets or online.

New recycling days:

You can look up your recycling days using the following weblink which will tell you what to put out and when:

https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20122/rubbish_and_recycling_collection_days

My activities in the Ward in 2023

Resident & Police Meeting organised due to local residents questions about crime:

Thanks to Wiltshire Police for joining us at Wanborough Village Hall yesterday (27th September) for a drop in session to talk about local police and crime matters and provide some advice on prevention.

They are also attending the Coffee Morning this morning and will try to attend my Ward Surgery at the end of October.

After three opportunistic car break-ins over the Bank Holiday the police were keen to reassure us that of all reported incidents there were just those three in August and one in September.

They gave advice on using faraday pouches for keyless car keys when stored at home - available for about £5.00

They also said that video doorbells are a useful deterrent as well as a means of gaining evidence. Again relatively inexpensive from about £80 plus a £3-£4.00 monthly subscription. Available from online suppliers or apparently Curry's have a team who sell them and offer advice.

As the prevention of rural crime is a police priority they are doing regular night-time patrols through the villages but again reassured residents who attended that crime is in fact very low in the villages.

They asked that all incidents are reported to them via 101 (unless an emergency in which case it’s 999). That way statistics allow them to prioritise their resources and attendance.

As well as the precautions above they reminded us that making sure vehicles are locked is always a good start as well as outbuildings, garages and sheds and not keeping car keys near the front door.

Leaving a light on in the house when you are not at home and perhaps the radio are also simple but useful ideas.

Speeding:

Sessions in the last week or so on Wanborough Road (which is all 30mph) got 17 people tickets (the fastest was 51mph) and over 50 people were stopped and given words of advice.

Hope this updates, reassures and helps.

Gary

Ridgeway Ward Councillor

The Southern Connector Road and The Marsh:

Buckingham (who were building the new road) have gone into Administration which has complicated both anticipated openings whilst SBC negotiate with the Administrators and take legal counsel.

Taking 'early enjoyment' of the road could compromise the final negotiations over costs and SBC must manage this carefully.

update from Head of Highways:

Gary

Yes we had a meeting ref our insurers and we have asked for a more precise view on The Marsh. I explained how we would normally work with developers and that ‘replacement’ stretches of road would normally be treated as dedicated highway in order to keep the traffic moving in cases like this. However given this is an SBC Design and Build scheme and we have the Buckingham issue it is a more complex issue and technically the scheme is not complete until contract completion

However I am awaiting an update from Zurich and also we need to consider this in the light of the confirmed administrators pathway with Buckingham

I will chase for the insurers view today for you and we will update Cllr Watts and yourself after our key internal meeting tomorrow ref Buckingham

Sorry I can’t be more precise but at least you have an update position

Best wishes

______________________________

Jon Harris MRTPI FCILT

Head of Strategic Transport

My applications for 20mph zones in Wanborough, Bishopstone & Liddington have been successful - what are the next steps... Well after the consultations there were considerable objections to some of the elements in Bishopstone and looking again at designs in Wanborough:

Dear Councillor Sumner,

I am writing to inform you of the upcoming Informal consultation for your applications to introduce a 20mph Speed limit in the above locations.

The informal consultation will run from Monday 3^rd July 2023 until Monday 24^th July 2023, and all information including letters, plans and guidance will be available on the Swindon Borough Council TRO Website at:

https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20135/traffic_management/657/traffic_regulation_orders_tros/2

We will use the councils social media channels and communications team to advertise the consultation to residents.

The number of and size of the schemes unfortunately make an individual letter drop to households commercially unviable.

It would therefore be helpful if you could assist in making your residents aware of the consultation through your own local communication channels. Copies of the consultation documents are attached for information.

Comments received will be via a form which will ask for the residents contact details, and whether they object or support the proposal.

Once the consultation has finished I will pass on a summary of the comments for us to agree the best way forward.

Thanks.

Sam Wright BEng MSc FCIHT

Senior Transport Engineer

Wanborough 20mph consultation:

Bishopstone 20mph consultation:

Liddington 20mph consultation:

Bishopstone & Liddington 20mph

Badbury Park 20mph zone:

Dear Councillors Elliott, Jefferies & Sumner,

Thank you for your application to introduce a 20mph Speed Limit in Badbury Park. The Speed Survey results have been collected and analysed. Please find a summary slide for your schemes attached to this email showing how it scored against the various assessment criteria approved by Cabinet.

Our records show that the streets identified within the application are not currently adopted by the council. We will need to work with our colleagues in the Highway Adoptions Team to understand the current legal status of the roads and the implications of seeking to introduce a 20mph speed limit at this stage in the development. We will update you further as to our progress in the New Year.

Any further questions please just let me know. If you would like a meeting to discuss this in more detail then I am happy to arrange on Teams or at the Civic Offices.

Regards,

Sam Wright BEng MSc FCIHT

Senior Transport Engineer

Address

Cllr Gary Sumner

Ridgeway Ward

Blenheim
Wanborough
Swindon
SN4 0AW

Tel: 01793 790814
E-mail: gary@ridgewayvillages.co.uk

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