Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • April 2004 -
Mr Singh's speculation could be a bad bet
As the March Link went to press, Swindon Council's planning committee were preparing to attend a special meeting to debate and decide
upon a planning application from Matthew Singh whose company Forefront Estates proposed to turn the derelict Mechanics' Institute into
a hotel with a leisure club and private apartments.
The plan before councillors in- Civic Society. Even the New Swin- and programmed the meeting. we still have the hope of achieving
volved removing the brick theatre don Company (responsible for re- The Link estimates that council- something worthwhile, something
flytower put up in the 1930s in the generating the town centre) ex- for expenses, officer preparation as good as the Mechanics' itself
middle of the original 1850s build- pressed its concern at deficiencies and attendance, printing, heat and was for Swindon in its heyday.
ing and replacing it with a ten floor in the proposals. light, plus the trip to London by "24 May this year is the 150th
blue glass clad block to provide The likelihood that GOSW planning councillors and officers anniversary of the laying of the
118 bedrooms. would step in and defer the deci- to visit buildings converted by Mr building's foundation stone. Many
The meeting lasted all of six min- sion was predictable. Nevertheless Singh's architects will have totalled thousands of people visited Swin-
utes after a letter was read from council officers still went ahead at least £6,000. don (then a town of 2,000) on that
the Government Office of the South If nothing day to witness the proceedings;
West (GOSW) stating that the else the inter- how many would want to come
council should not decide on the vention of bu- and celebrate this monstrosity?
application until historic building reaucrats from "The trust is calling on our two
experts were given more time to GOSW has MPs and the Government to take
consider the proposals. saved Swin- action quickly to resolve this sad
English Heritage were always don from its situation. There are powers avail-
going to have a central influence own. able to the Government to use in a
over the future of the Grade II* With its III 'last resort;' we believe the coun-
listed building, but they had not rating, the Me- cil's attempt to railroad through
received the detailed proposals. chanics' Insti- the application indicates that a
Other objections were received tute is one of higher level of legal action is war-
from the Victorian Society, the Seeing sense. Supporters of the New Mechanics' Institution the top six per ranted."
Theatres Trust, the Ancient Monu- Trust pleased that Government intervention has delayed a deci- cent most im- She added that the importance
ment Society and the Swindon sion on the proposal to turn the Mechanics' Institute into a hotel portant build- of the Mechanics' is indicated by
ings in the the fact that the day after the'emer-
country, not because of its archi- gency' planning meeting, the di-
tecture, but for its contribution to rector of the BBC TV Restoration
the social history and community programme telephoned the trust
A
development of Swindon. to ask whether it was any nearer
The New Mechanics' Institution owning the building as he wanted
Trust have been battling to pre- to include it in the next series.
serve the building from develop- Having invested an estimated
ment and see it returned to social £1 million on purchase and lim-
MANUFACTURERS^ RETAILERS & INSTALLERS
and community use - as it was ited remedial works on the Me-
OF FINE HANDMADE KITCHENS originally conceived by the GWR chanics' Mr Singh has commented
, , , workers who paid for its construe- that he might walk away from the
tion in the mid 19th Century. project.
Martha Parry of the Trust said the It's something he should con-
members were delighted that th sider as it will take months for
y . Government had stepped in before English Heritage to decide on the
an ill considered decision was made. merits of his plan and the Trust
If this application had gone will be challenging his proposals
i
!l r ii
f'"= through as recommended by coun- all the way to the Deputy Prime
_ cil planners, Swindon would have Minister, John Prescott's office.
/4 j been a laughing stock nationwide Mr Singh's pockets will need to
every day the hotel stood. Now, be deep to stay in the game.

Visit our superb showrooms in lheLinkMagazi%
REENBRIDGE RETAIL PAR Swindon -finest in the area
DRAKES WAY •
Open: Published by
WH SMITH g Mon—Fri l0am-5.30pm Swindon Publications Ltd.
Saturday & Bank Holidays
• i Papermakers House. Westlea
GREENBRIDGE ROAD
10.30am-4.30pm Swindon SN5 7BD
SWINDON RUGBY CLDB
Sunday llam-3pm
Tel: (01793) 872282
The Link was first published for the West
Tel: (01793) 423478 Fax: (01793) 878189 Swindon community in December 1978.
e: [email protected]
It is completely independent of Link Centre
www.swindonlink.com
Manor Cabinets Plc Kelvin Road,
and, in fact, won a competition to name the,
Greenbridge Industrial Estate, Swindon SN3 3JW Publisher Editor: Roger Ogle leisure centre in 1984. Distribution in Nort
Swindon's award winning kitchen company. Tel: (01793) 872282 Swindon commenced in January 1994."
Manor Cabinets: A Sunday Times/Virgin Atlantic f isttrack 100 Corn pain' The contents of The Link are protected
Also branches at Basins;stoke, Farnham, by copyright. Use of advertisements in
Henley, Reading, Thatcham, Wirnborne, ' printed or electronic form is forbidden
Windlesham and Wokingham ^^ unless an advertiser or publisher has
f
o
H
r A
ARCHITECTS, BUILDERS, s.F i. e s aoc 0 sought permission. Articles and photo-
INTERIOR DESIGNERS - graphs require similar authority
ALL TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME Setting the Standards tegistered in England & Wales. No: 4513027. Registered O fice: 130 High Street, Hungedord, Berks. RG17 ODL. Printed by pep. Telford