Freshbrook

Freshbrook is a suburb in the west of Swindon, England, located close to junction 16 of the M4 motorway (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 served by Stagecoach West bus service 10 which goes in two directions around Freshbrook: one way to the nearby Link Centre at West Swindon, and the other direction towards Toothill, town centre, Gorse Hill and Kingsdown. Since November 2016, it runs every 10 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime and every 30 minutes Sundays. Since April 2017, there has been a reduced evening service, with the last 10 bus leaving the town centre at 10:20pm. Prior to this date there was a secondary route, service 55A, which diverted from the main 55 route to Chippenham to serve Freshbrook in the evenings and on Sundays.

Prior to service 10, Freshbrook's buses were 8: to Link Centre, town centre, Great Western Hospital and Chiseldon and 9/9A/9B: to Link Centre, town centre, Wroughton and Thorney Park. Together these routes provided the 10 minute frequency (each was every 20 minutes). This was a popular service and as a result, punctuality became poor, resulting in a need to change the service.

From early 2007 until 2010, a 54 service also ran through Freshbrook from Wootton Bassett through the town centre and on to Wroughton, every 20 minutes. However this was stopped due to Council cutbacks.

Freshbrook is also served by Swindon's Bus Company operating a service for schoolchildren to travel to Ridgeway School in Wroughton. This is the No.154 which has one journey in each direction on school days.

Education

The area has one school, Millbrook Primary School. Freshbrook had two primary schools, Freshbrook and Windmill Hill, but due to an ageing population these were merged to form Millbrook (an amalgamation of the two previous school names), on the site of Freshbrook School.

For secondary education, pupils from Freshbrook can attend Lydiard Park Academy, Bradon Forest, or Ridgeway School & Sixth Form College.

Leisure and recreation

The Link Centre lies to one side of Freshbrook and provides entertainment such as a library, ice rink and wall climbing facilities. On the same complex are several local shops and an Asda supermarket.

Representatives

Freshbrook, along with Grange Park and part of Toothill, is served by three local councillors in the Lydiard & Freshbrook ward. At present one councillor is a member of the Labour Party and two councillors are members of the Conservative Party.[2] It forms part of the parliamentary constituency of South Swindon.

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References
  1. "Freshbrook and Grange Park ward 2011". Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  2. "Councillors by Ward: Lydiard and Freshbrook". Swindon Borough Council. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
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