Page 5 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • November 2003
Something rotten in the state of Swindon?
*uu nn
At the same time in September that Swindon Council's cabinet decided to back the multi-million pound bid
to the Heritage Lottery fund for the restoration of Lydiard Park, the council's planning committee added
millions of pounds in value to the rotting Mechanics' Institution by agreeing outline planning permission on 18"' QEenturp iUage 3 ill
the thinnest of pretexts. Central Area councillor David Nash asks the difficult questions that the & Restatircant
councillors on the committee shied away from.
Lydiard Millicent
Swindon's history is wrapped up in the development of the railways - and nothing symbolises the Tel: (01793) 770425
decline of our identity so dramatically as the state of the Mechanics' Institute.
V Xmas Party Menu
When Forefront Estates took show in town, it appears that the could be anything. from £16.95pp •
over the building, hired appropri- planners deliberately glossed over What I'd like to know is this, for 4 course •
ate architects to advise them and any others. what could possibly have induced
started tidying up, I was encour- I am left with strong concerns our planning officers to tie the set menu •
aged that a revival was imminent. about the role of planning officials hands of the planning committee I Xmas Day Lunch •
Now I'm not so sure. in all of this. It's now almost im- in this way? And why did the com- £41.95pp for 4 course
The planning committee's deci- possible for the planning commit- mittee allow it to happen?
sion to allow a 'change of use' for tee to turn down detailed plans on set menu
the Mechanics seems straightfor- the grounds of inappropriate use. I 'Mistletoe and Wine'
ward. As they stressed, all they Given how broad the outline per- Xmas Banquet.
were agreeing to was to change mission is, provided the owners IT 2-(J-COM £21.95 each
the potential use of the building. comply and don't knock the build- Table for 6 £110
Instead, I believe they have issued ing about, the detailed application
an instruction to Forefron t PC Support straight > New Years Eve Dinner
to do what they like. - to your door £24.95 for 5 courses.
All of the uses agreed to - • Computer running slow? I Bookings advisable
suchasahotel,acasino,luxury >., - • Need some advice?
flats and all-night wine-bars - • Looking to upgrade? Open:
could be completely unsuit- • Equipment required? Mon - Fri: 11.30am - 3pm & 5pm -11 pm
able for a conservation area. It • Virus and Internet attack Sat: 11.30am - 3pm & 6pm - 11 pm
depends on context and to un- questions? Sun: 12noon - 10.30pm
derstand that you have to have • Wishing to backup? Food served:
detail. Forefront have not pro- Mon - Sat: 11.30am - 2.30pm
vided any. 01793 887883 & 6.30pm - 9.30pm
It appears to me that the 07949 288996
council's planning officials [email protected] Pro-R Sun: 12noon - 2.30pm & 6.30pm - 9pm
have bent over backwards to www.it-2-u.com ^-• °- Bar snacks available all day Sunday
smooth the path to a devel-
opment of this building with-
out considering the signifi-
cance of the building or
neighbouring residents. __(
As the director in charge ° FACTORY WAREHOUSE
told me - what else could
they do? Forefront are the only - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
show in town.
Well, here are a few suggestions. 4
All adult residents of www.lightingbug.co.uk FREE CAR PARKING WELCOME
1. The planning officers' report
could have taken English Heritage Haydon Wick Parish • Probably the widest selection of
(EH) seriously. EH said that they are invited to attend the lighting in Wiltshire
could not recommend the plans - Annual General Meeting • Affordable prices
because there weren't any. of the Haydon Wick
This expert advice was dis- • Ceiling Fans
missed by both officials and coun- Community Association • Factory outlet open to public
cillors on the committee. on Monday 1st December, 7pm
• Special discounted prices
2. Planners could have ignored at the Haydon Centre
Forefront's threats to walk away
unless they got planning permis- The following resolution is • If you can not find what you are
sion. proposed by the trustees: looking for we will try our best to
They have invested at least "That the existing Community find it for you!
£250,000 in the building, so far. Association be dissolved and its
Would they really have abandoned assets lodged in a new trust fund • Made to measure shades in your
such an investment? It's a com- created to provide grants to own fabric
mon threat by developers, and one groups and for projects within • Over 700 fittings to choose from
the committee should have faced Haydon Wick and the neighbour-
up to. hood." • Special requirements and
alterations catered for
3. Planning officials could have Any resident wishing to seek
taken the views of the Mechanics' further information about the proposal Our service to you is paramount
Institute Task Force into account. prior to the meeting should write to: G^^Va 5wi^COQ
This was set up last year by the Brian Holden
council, involving English Herit- Chairman of Haydon Wick
age. It agreed that the New Me- Community Association.
chanics' Institution Preservation c/o the Haydon Centre, Thames Avenue Gres •
m
Trust should build up its business Swindon SN25 100 ESiaie
.
plan as a possible solution. Brian Holden - Chairman Trading Hours: Mon - Sat 9.30 5.30
Alan Bushell - Secretary Bank Holidays 10.00 - 4.00
Far from Forefront being the only l