Freshbrook

Freshbrook is a suburb in the west of Swindon, England, located close to junction 16 of the M4 motorway (51°32′N 1°50′W / 51.54°N 01.84°W / 51.54; -01.84). Most houses in the area are found in cul-de-sacs, except for those on the few main roads Freshbrook has. The suburb is served by a "village centre" known colloquially as Freshbrook Shops.

Adjacent areas are Grange Park to the north, Toothill to the east, Blagrove Industrial Estate to the south, and Windmill Hill Business Park to the west. A new housing development, Wichelstowe, was built southeast of Freshbrook, commencing in 2009. However, this is separated from Freshbrook by Great Western Way and the main railway line.

The Swindon ward is called Freshbrook and Grange Park. The population of this ward taken at the 2011 census was 9,889.^[1]

History

Freshbrook was built during the early 1980s as part of the 'West Swindon' urban extension of Swindon.

Transport

Main roads are Gainsborough Way, Worsley Road, Rowton Heath Way, and Liskeard Way.

Freshbrook is currently served by bus No.8/9/9A/9B to Town Centre/Wroughton via Toothill. The frequency of this route is 10 minutes, Monday-Saturday Daytime. In the evenings and on Sundays, the No. 8 is supplemented with the 55A, a diversion of the 55, which also serves Town Centre, but also serves the neighbouring villages and towns such as Royal Wootton Bassett, Lyneham, Calne and Chippenham. From Early 2007 until 2010, a 54 service also used to run through Freshbrook from Wootton Bassett through Town Centre and on to Wroughton, every 20 minutes. Due to Council cutbacks, the 54 stopped serving Freshbrook, with only a 54A, running twice a day for School Children. This was withdrawn a year later in April 2011. Despite the community pursuing to get the route back, even on a reduced frequency, the bus company, Stagecoach insisted that it was not commercially viable. Since July 2014, the No.8 frequency was reduced to every 20 minutes and was supplemented with a new service No.9, where the route stretches to Wroughton after the Town Centre.

Freshbrook is also served by Thamesdown Transport. Thamesdown operate two irregular services. The No.28 runs from the neighbouring Lydiard Fields to the Town centre. This is run at a frequency of approximately 30 minutes in the Peak periods. There is also a service for school children to travel to Ridgeway School in Wroughton. This is the No.154 and this has one journey in each direction on school days.

Education

The area has one school, Millbrook Primary School. Freshbrook did have two primary schools, Freshbrook and Windmill Hill. Due to an ageing population these were merged to form Millbrook (an amalgamation of the two previous school names), which is situated on the site of Freshbrook School.

For secondary education, residents of Freshbrook can use Greendown Community School, Bradon Forest, or Ridgeway School.

Leisure and Recreation

The Link centre lies to one side of Freshbrook and can contains entertainment such as a library, ice rink and wall climbing facilities. On the same complex are several local shops and a branch of the ASDA food-store.

Local Councillors

Freshbrook, along with Grange Park & part of Toothill, is served by 3 local councillors in the Lydiard & Freshbrook Ward:

Cllr Michael Dickinson [Conservative] (due for re-election in 2014)

Cllr Cindy Matthews [Labour] (due for re-election in 2015)

Cllr Mick Bray [Conservative] (due for re-election in 2016)

Cllr Mick Bray is the Mayor of Swindon Cllr Michael Dickinson chairs the Council's Audit Committee

References