Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • October 2001
City status - are Yes - let's go for it
we ready? From Fay Howard, Risingham Mead, Swindon
Although I don't fully understand owned by the behind. We have the Town Gardens
The government is inviting towns all it entails, I fully support Swin-
to apply for city status by 12 don's bid for city status. people of Swin- and the Bowl, Steam, the Great West-
October so the Queen can an- Swindon should be a city. We have don. ern Community Forest, the Outlet
nounce four in her Jubilee year, a great past in the railways, a great I hope this bid Village, Coate Water, Lydiard Park,
2002. Could Swindon be chosen? provides more community halls, the town centre,
The Link took a highly sceptical future as the growth and low unem- opportunity for the Arts Centre, Museum, the new
view in 1999 that Swindon was ready ployment shows. We do have cul- us all to put our Great Western Hospital, Universi ty
ture, not as much as some places case, with bids and library coming - and enough
to be a city for the millennium. Re-
grettably we still take that view, for admittedly, but we are vibrant, di- from schools, roundabouts - to surely qualify for
the same two reasons. Firstly, little verse, innovative and forward look- communities, churches and indi- city status!
So lets speak out. There was an
effort is being made to explain the ing. If any town should be a city, viduals, as well as industry and the
benefits of becoming a city and sec- surely it is Swindon. council. invitation from council leader Sue
Bates in the last Link to have our
For too long Swindon has accepted
ondly, little is being done to involve I was disappointed with aspects a second class image. We are a first voices heard in support of a bid for
the people of the town in the process. of the last bid for city status. I didn't
Apart from writing to the council, there feel part of it, nor felt that it was class town who deserve not to be left city status, I hope we use it.
have been no opportunities for peo-
ple - as individuals or in community What jewels does Swindon have?
groups - to become actively engaged
in the process of becoming a city. asks Jean Saunders of Swindon Friends of the Earth
It's all too cosy, hidden and de- Having been accused of basing the it seems the voices of those placeable assets such as
tached. There have been no public previous bid for city status on purely wanting to profit from de- Seven Fields Nature Re-
meetings, no open debate on the materialistic grounds, Swindon Bor- veloping more country- serve, wildlife habitats, the
matter and no chance for the people ough Council now pins its hopes on side or open spaces around Mechanics Institute, the
of the town to take ownership of the the support of Swindonians and vol- the town have been heard °" Corn Exchange, the Roman
issue. untary organisations to promote the more loudly than those archaeological sites and the
There is so much to shout about in town in order to gain this dubious wanting to see Swindon countryside around the
Swindon, and much to hope for. It's a honour. make the best of what it t 1^. town that they will be en-
good place to live with so many peo- The local authority certainly won't already has. hanced and protected? I
ple doing positive things. It's a great get my backing when it continues to Swindon Borough Council has doubt it.
town, but is it a city? follow a policy of economic growth asked us to name Swindon's jewels City status means more housing
The Link and our web site are the at the expense of the environment as part of the city bid application. estates, factories, offices, supermar-
only media where questions about and social well-being. Of course peo- Does this mean that if we name irre- kets, car parks and traffic.
the validity of becoming a city is be- ple need employment and houses to
ing discussed. live, but is it necessary to move peo- Do people support city status?
As Andrew Nye of the Swindon ple to jobs rather than direct new From Eddie Bedwell, Chair of the 21st Century Swindon Forum
Association of Primary Headteach- employment to where unemploy- The unanimous opinion of the Forum Committee members was that they
ers said, on the release of the Ofsted ment is high? could not endorse Swindon's bid for city status.
report on Swindon education depart- Who gives a damn, apart from
We considered that the Borough
Committee members were con-
ment, (see opposite), "Swindon multinational companies and politi- should see the town in reality and cerned as to whether the Borough
Council should concentrate on get- cians, whether Swindon is recog- that amenities such as a first class had carried out a proper public con-
ting an excellent education service nised for its regional importance? library, a real town square, a better sultation on the matter when a TV
before thinking about becoming a Swindon is described as the power- museum/art gallery need to be in survey had indicated that two thirds
city." house for the south-west but who place before time and resources are of the Swindon people surveyed
Sadly, the people have not had the wants to live in an engine and be part
chance to have their say. Until they of a stinking machine where profits spent on obtaining the 'name' city. opposed the bid.
do, we will continue to question the come before quality?
honesty of becoming one. In just 30 years Swindon's main Why waste money?
Here we publish views on the sub- attraction, its lovely countryside, has From David Holliday, The Lawn, Old Town
ject. You can also see the comments been gobbled up to the east, to the In response to the invitation, in the September Link Magazine, I have fond
at www.swindonlink.com west, to the north and soon to the memories of Swindon including:
Let us know what you think. south in the name of growth. So far
• The Lawns (Old Town), left to the people by the Goddard family, at
one time fully maintained - now no longer.
• The Link Centre - at one time a pleasing building and maintained
the Link magazine • Swindon Centre - with its reasonable shops and clean precinct
- now no longer.
- now no longer.
Published by • Swindon library with the promise of a permanent site some thirty
West Swindon Publications Editorial copy date for years ago - now part of another forward plan - now no longer?
Papermakers House, Westlea November: 8 October • Swindon Reference library with its comparative peace and quiet
Swindon SN5 7BD Published: 27 October facilities for study, also with promises of a permanent site - now no
Tel: (01793) 872282 Copy for December: 8 November longer. We now have to endure unacceptable noise and loud music
Fax: (01793) 878189 "The Link was first published for the West from the rooms above.
e: [email protected] Swindon community in December 1978. • A hospital of which Swindon was justly proud - now no longer.
It is completely independent of Link Centre In its place a seemingly splendid building but, I understand, lacks
www.swindonlink.com adequate accommodation.
and, in fact, won a competition to name the
Publisher/Editor: Roger Ogle leisure centre in 1984. Distribution in North • The Corn Exchange (Old Town) and the Mechanics Institute, at one
Editorial: Tel: (01793) 872282 Swindon commenced in January 1994." time splendid and 'active' buildings and part of Swindon's
heritage, of which Swindon should be proud - now no longer.
TO BOOK ADVERTISING: The contents of The Link are protected • Vehicles not causing congestion and not permitted to double park
Call Jenni Fowler on ' by copyright. Use of advertisements in or park on double-yellow lines - now no longer.
printed or electronic form is forbidden
(01793) 872531 • The peoples' voice was at one time heard - now no longer.
unless an advertiser or publisher has
Booking deadline: 5 October
sought permission. Articles and photo- Why waste our money striving for city status when we need to get our town
Printed by Goodhead Print graphs require similar authority in order first ?