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 the town centre and 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 ran through Freshbrook from Wootton Bassett through the town centre and on to Wroughton, every 20 minutes. Due to Council cutbacks, the 54 stopped serving Freshbrook, leaving only a 54A, running twice a day for schoolchildren. This was withdrawn a year later in April 2011. Despite the community campaigning 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, which continues 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, at a frequency of approximately 30 minutes in peak periods. There is also 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.^[2] It forms part of the parliamentary constituency of South Swindon.

References