Sustainable Transport – Jan 20th, 7.30 Central Library,  presentation by Go-Cooperative organised by Swindon Civic Trust.

Kate Whittle of the Go-Cooperative will describe plans for providing sustainable transport in a co-operative manner.  The Go-Cooperative is currently negotiating with Network Rail and the Office of the Rail Regulator to start a Yeovil to Oxford rail service calling at several rural stations and Swindon.  This is planned to start at the end of 2011.  It expects to launch its first car sharing club in Swindon in March 2011.  Sustainable bus services are also planned.   Free to Civic Trust members, others are invited to make a donation.   No booking needed.

As Labour Group spokesman for Transport and the Environment I was delighted to receive an early copy of the Swindon Civic Trust Strategy 2010-2013.  The Trust are campaigning on many of the issues that Labour fought the last Borough election on, and are committed to the sort of localism in planning and politics which was pioneered by Labour in its 2008 White Paper (Real People Real Power – communities in control).

I’m pleased that the Trust are concentrating on three strategic projects:

• town centre regeneration – focusing on the need to contribute to the best possible regeneration of our town centre and its long-term needs;
• creating a University for Swindon – building on previous studies and producing an economic and academic case for the university to be centrally located;
• Swindon’s landscapes - helping communities to establish a positive sense of identity and wellbeing, and encouraging residents to become more involved with planning for both conservation and change.

These are all areas that the Labour Group campaigned on at the last election, and we also included the following Civic Trust priorities in our detailed plans:

• recognising the character & potential of the GWR Heritage Area & its neglected landmarks;
• securing a central position for the Modern Art Collection and Registrar’s Office;
• producing a plan to resolve traffic circulation and design an ultra-light transport circuit.

The Labour Group looks forward to discussing these issues with the Civic Trust in preparation for Labour regaining a majority on Swindon Borough Council in May 2012…