Lib Dems Support Coate, Root and Branch (Swindon Liberal Democrats)

Swindon Liberal Democrats <info@swindonlibdems.org>

Lib Dems Support Coate, Root and Branch

January 27, 2005 10:43 PM

David Rendel MP signing the Save Coate! petition

Liberal Democrat Higher Education spokesperson, David Rendel MP, met students at Swindon's New College and took the opportunity to discuss the Save Coate campaign with some of its supporters. Mr Rendel joined Sue Stebbing, the Lib Dem PPC for South Swindon, in signing the Save Coate petition which calls for the area to be protected.

Several Liberal Democrats are active in the Save Coate campaign. At their recent AGM, Party members called for a University to be built in the town centre and to halt plans for development at Coate.

Other vocal opponents of the development include the Leader of the Lib Dem group on Swindon council, Cllr Chris Shepherd and the chair of Swindon Lib Dems, Cllr Wendy Johnson.

Cllr Shepherd commented:

"Liberal Democrats are united on this issue. As a Party, we say Yes to a University in Swindon but No to development at Coate.

"The other parties have different spokespersons saying different things. At best, each party is split wide open on the issue. At worst, the Labour and Tory parties are cynically allowing their candidates to sign the Save Coate petition knowing that the parties are adopting the opposite policy in practice.

Dr Stebbing added:

"Coate is too valuable to Swindon people to be used as a political football. Politicians of all parties must stand up to the financial interests and protect Coate from this appalling fate."