At Thursday night’s full Council meeting, the Leader of the Council, Councillor David Renard, was asked to confirm whether the claims made by South Swindon MP, Robert Buckland, that he had secured the buy back of Cavendish Square were true. Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate, Sarah Church, submitted a written question in advance of the meeting asking whether the claims made by Mr Buckland in the local media, and also in letters distributed to residents in the area around Cavendish Square, that the Council had committed to buy back the Square within six months were accurate.
In spite of no timely response being made available to Mrs Church, her supplementary question directly asked the Council Leader to confirm his commitment to buy back the land. He answered that he “could neither confirm nor deny” that the Council will buy back the land.
Sarah Church said, “The statements made by Mr Buckland have got everyone’s hopes up but he appears to be making promises he cannot guarantee.
I’ve been supporting the hard working campaigners from the Parks and East Walcot Community Forum, and St Johns Church on Whitbourne Avenue, who have been raising the issue of the poor state of repair of Cavendish Square for years. It’s not fair to make misleading statements when they, and those of us who have walked the streets collecting petition signatures, have worked so hard. I’m pleased this issue is now being properly looked into, but it is only now after years of ignoring residents that our local elected representatives have taken an active interest.”
