Page 5 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • July 2003 5
Regenerating the heart of Swindon. Why bother?

A perspective from Peter Andrews, Chief Executive of The New Swindon Company, (Swindon's urban regeneration company)
Over the last few months we've Contact us via our website at
been talking to many different www.newswindon.co.uk or come
groups of people about what is along and see some of the propos-
good in Swindon and what needs als at our exhibition in the Brunel
improving. Centre on 4 and 5 July.
I have to say, although there's a
lot of support for revitalising the
central area, there's also a great PALM JOINERY
deal of apathy about the town of Unit 10, Oaklands Ind Est, Braydon, Swindon
Swindon and very little mention Tel/Fax: 01793 854 777
of the great features that the place
has to offer. Design, make & fitting services
So before we take a look at why Guaranteed quality
we should bother about renewing craftmanship
the town centre, I'd like to high- Let u.s help you unlock
light just some of the factors that Talking ideas regeneration at seminar at the old railway museum on 7 June, your imagination
really work in Swindon's favour:
from left, Martha Parry of the New Mechanics Institution Preservation Trust, Fitted and freestanding finrniture.
• Good levels of employment and Rosemary Wells of the New Swindon Company, Peter Andrews, chief execu- household items including:
income; tive, Eddie Bedwell, Swindon 21st Century Forum, S'pal Patel, seminar Handmade bedrooms & kitchens
participant, Malathy Sitaram, New Swindon Company board member, Brian Doors, windows, stairs, mouldings.
• Location and connections - a key
Burrows, Swindon Civic Trust member radiator covers and fire surrounds.
position between the South West Flat packs assembled
and South East regions with great of 47% over the last 10 years, town truly great place to be — and a town Standard sizes and designs available
rail and road links at the heart of centre employment has declined that has its rightful place up there Please ask for items not listed
some of the country's most beau ti- by 7%? amongst the leaders in the regional
ful countryside; economy.
• There's been no new specula- THE Need
• Great Western Outlet Centre - tive office development in the cen- Should we bother? If we don't
the largest covered designer outlet tre for over a decade? then the town will die and with it COMPLETE clirtains
in Europe; the heritage and opportunities for CURTAIN orbl^inds
• Our town has the 30th largest generations to come. That must
• Location for major businesses - population in the UK but our retail surely be worth it. SERVICE made?
and The National Trust, soon to offer ranks 70th - and that's down What's your view? Let us know Design, making and complete
move their headquarters from Lon- seven places in the last five years? what you think could make a real fitting service available
don to the town; Large range of material samples
Added to these, we have consid- difference to Swindon.
• Investment interest — Westfield erable room for improvement with Free estimating and advice
Shoppingtowns are considering a our transport (links over the rail- Call Tracey or Amanda on
major retail extension and rede- way line to name just one), public 01793 611051
velopment of the Brunel Centre; areas and open spaces (not always `GRA'
the University of Bath have ex- pleasant and can feel intimidating r r Home Sew Curtain ' 1 L
pressed interest in having their at times). CCOUNTANCY Supplies
Institute of Contemporary and Although thousands of people 1 00's of fabrics in stock
Interdisciplinary Arts in the town work in the centre, many don't • Business Start Up from £2.50/metre
centre; come back in to the town to shop • Book-Keeping Heading from 25p/metre
• Rail heritage — the STEAM mu- or go to the theatre, or out to din- • Annual Accounts Lining from £1.50/metre
seum and the Railway Village. ner. So much of the wealth that's • Self Assessment Tax Cushion pads from £2 each
created goes to neighbouring L_ All types of rails _Il
The list is by no means complete. towns rather than in to Swindon. Short & long term
Swindon has so much going for it assistance and projects
And we don't have an adequate
but the town centre is failing and if supply and mix of housing in the Home visits arranged or
we don't address the problem, the centre to encourage more people Free initial meeting
decline will get worse. For exam- Tel: 01793 871790
ple, did you know that: to live in the town.
I believe that we have the op- Free phone: 0800 5422 778
• Although employment in the portunity to create a town that is a www.graaccountancy.co.uk
borough shows an overall increase

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