Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • October 2000
Fuel protest puts paid to City or town? Are we trying
looking at Swindon together hard enough?
A conference to give Swindon people a chance to discuss what they
think of the town, planned for 23 September, had to be postponed In August The Sun complimented Swindon for a ttracting a
because of the fuel shortages that gripped the country. major expansion by Honda, who might be exporting cars back
Martha Parry of the New Me- "The Link provided the only pro- to Japan. At the same time journalist Judy Jones lambasted
chanic's Institute Trust, who had motion for the conference. With- the town and its city aspirations in the New Statesman.
organised 'Looking at Swindon ... out ongoing publicity closer to the Her article concluded: "To me, elected leaders have barely started
together' explained, "there was so date, it was not viable to hold it." Swindon's great tragedy is not that bothering to try."
much local newspaper reporting 'Looking at Swindon... together' it has so conspicuously failed to No other publication has given
given over to fuel crisis earlier in will now be held on Saturday 4 reinvent itself as a go-ahead, cul- the town's leadership the chance
September that there was no space November. Details will be pub- turally rich and vibrant city afterthe to reply in their own words. Here
to promote the conference. We lished in our November edition. final collapse of its railway industry Swindon Council leader Sue Bates
also had distribution problems for in the 1980s, but simply that its takes up the opportunity.
our own newsletter and trust mem-
bers received the information too
late." omments from Judy Jones old poly-
in the New Statesmen technics,
C magazine about Swindon butaproud
Trust bid for museum
were not unexpected. The article institution
turned down in The Sun threw down the gaunt- with a rich
A request to Swindon Council by let to those who have a different and histori-
the New Mechanic's Institute view. cal aca-
Trust to rent the railway museum However it is my responsibility demic tra-
in Fleet Street has been rejected. as Leader to speak up, promote, dition.
The building, which has been accentuate the positive, and be A cathe-
empty for a year since it made way proud of the achievements Swin- dral? Fora ' '"
for STEAM, stands next to the der- don town has made. country'
elict Mechanic's Institute which the Think of Sunderland - granted that is more
trust is fighting to save. city status in 1992. With all due secular,
The trust has a grant from the Keep out says Swindon: Mechanics respect to them, one could ask, more culturally diverse, and more
Architects Heritage Trust to rent Institute trustees Donald Brunwin 'what was so special about them?' at ease with itself, does a town
offices. The museum would be an and Martha Parry outside the old They were the largest town yet to have to define itself by the exist-
ideal venue for a semi-permanent museum which then cannot rent receive City status, and its ship- ence and magnitude of a religious
exhibition of their proposals. building industry had fallen on building? This is a new millen-
Area panels dates hard times. What else was it re- nium (albeit in the Christian calen-
nowned for? The arrival of Nissan
dar), but these are also new and
Swindon residents have the op- gave the city the impetus for eco- exciting times. We don't need to
tech Doll o H portunity to raise issues and to be nomic rejuvenation, and the rest identify ourselves by outdated cri-
consulted on proposals affecting as they say is history. The success teria from the last millennium.
coosulraors ltd. their neighbourhoods at six area of the football team has only been Of course, Swindon is proud of
panels made up of ward council- in recent years, it has a university its history as a railway town, but
Join the internet before
lors covering the town. - albeit formed from the former discovery of Roman ruins in Ab-
your competitors do! People who want a problem de- polytechnic. bey Meads has uncovered a wealth
bated should contact their local Let me address some of the criti- of history we never knew existed.
Good value professional
councillors and there is a public cism. Judy Jones praised the De- We are also looking to the future
website design and hosting question time at the beginning of signer Outlet centre (we should be for Swindon. We are developing
Ideal for the small business looking each meeting. grateful for that), but 'Swindon - a the 30 Year Vision, which will set
for an internet presence. 4 years Panel meetings take place on: lost civilisation waiting to be un- out how Swindon needs to develop
5 October South East earthed.' What on earth is she on and adapt over the coming years.
experience including WAP and Java.
12 October South Swindon about? You cannot transform a town
Contact 07092 128972 18 October East Swindon Following the demise of the rail- overnight. Change should be
email: [email protected] 19 October North Swindon way works, we didn't hang around planned to ensure that the 'new'
Swindon for the 21st Century re-
www.techauthor.co.uk 2 November West Swindon waiting for a pick me up - we just
9 November North Central got on with the job, reinventing ally is 'fit for purpose.'
ourselves, building a strong Civic leaders and officers are
economy. Her most bizarre criti- prepared for that challenge now -
cism is 'of being too successful by as they have been in the past.
PARTNERS What's wrong with that? Is it See the debate @
Gt (O C' half!'
not our job to achieve economic www.swindonlink.com
— HAIR & BEAUTY — ^1 prosperity, and ensure our resi- A series of highly sceptical arti-
dents share in that prosperity and cles on city status in The Link last
security? year preceded Judy Jones views.
Swindon's only salon Her basic criteria come down to In May, we asked if the town
;ti p offering Ultratone two things: having a cathedral and ever stood a chance following a
Super Pro 20 treatments a university. As many local people leaked Home Office assessment
O Non-surgical facelift, know, we are getting our own uni- of the town's prospects.
•, elimination of fine lines and versity in conjunction with Bath They appear in the City De-
^jjjtj^. skin rejuvenations. University. This is a significant bate section on our web site.
step on the road to achieving and Judy Jones' has given her per-
0 Ultra fast inch loss, bust lift, hips,
thighs & buttocks lift & tone. providing first class higher educa- mission for her full article to ap-
tion in the town. pear there as well.
01
Town Square, West Swindon Centre,7
Bath University is not one of the What do you think? Visit the
Tewkesbury Way, Swindon. Tel: 01793 870462 new universities created from the site and add your views.