Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • Jul 2004
150 years marked by battle for control
Seven thousand people came to Swindon in late May 1854 to witness the foundation stone being laid at
Swindon's Mechanics' Institute, a remarkable event considering the town only had a population of 3,000.
Built with money raised by village has been blocked by Eng-
workers of the GWR through their lish Heritage. He is now locked in
own company, the New Swindon negotiations to find a way forward.
Improvement Co., the building Martha Parry of the New Me-
included at various times reading chanics' said the campaign to save
rooms, a library which pre-dated it is stronger than ever. "The Me-
England's first public library by chanics' was originally built with
several years, tea rooms and thea- workers donations and the trust is
tre, and in the early days, shops continuing that legacy of commu-
and a market - everything to sus- nity support.
tain the growing community based "We could not work out how
around the railway works. 7,000 people turned up in the town
The building was re-modelled on a working day 150 years ago
and extended twice to provide for until we established it was Queen
different needs, until it closed in New Mechanics' supporters Joyce Victoria's birthday and a holiday.
Lines and Ted Browning marking
1986 as the town's railway works 150 years of the now derelict building "With so much pressure on
Let us Cre'8 shut down. Swindon Council ics' in 2003 and was awarded out- Swindon today for redevelopment
and regeneration, it is more im-
turned down a British Rail offer to
a new u buy it for £1 and it was sold to a line planning permission by Swin- portant than ever that we preserve
{ private developer whose plan for don Council to re-develop it as a this important social centre for the
a hotel was turned down. hotel and apartments, with a gym. community, but fashioned for the
In 1995 the Swindon New Me- Mr Singh's detailed plans to re- modern age."
chanics' Institution Trust was move the central section of the • Book a stall at the 150th anniver-
formed to try and save the derelict building and put up a 10 storey sary New Mechanics' childrens fete
building for community use. Due blue glass slab, to provide 104 bed- at Faringdon Road Park on 14
to their hard work, English Herit- rooms, towering over the railway August, 1 pm - 9pm. Tel: 520592
te :
age uprated its classification to
l a
Grade II* to reflect its contribution
to the social and community his- North community association closes
tory of the town. This puts it
Thames Avenue, Greenmeadow amongst the top 15 per cent most Abbey Meads Community Association has decided that there is no
longer the support to continue its activities following a poor turnout
Call 520813 to book an important buildings in the UK. at its annual meeting in April.
appointment However new developer Mat- Outgoing treasurer Graham Smith wrote in the last edition of the
thew Singh acquired the Mechan-
association's newsletter, Abbey Chat, that it is a happy ending. Pointing
out that the body was formed in 1997 when the development was young
and residents faced many problems as an emerging community, he
Stop dreaming, feels that many issues have been dealt with and that good community
facilities now exist.
There are outstanding issues, but Abbey Meads residents have
start riding shown themselves in the past to be capable of combining to tackle these
as they did over the proposed siting of a fast food outlet on their
doorstep. There will be a final meeting of the association on 30 June at
the Church of Christ Servant when the only business will be the formal
0 PEUGEOT AA1, ouch, dissolution of the body.
With the closing of Abbey Chat, The Link will continue to cover stories
There's never been a better time from the area. Please contact the number below.
to buy a scooter. See the fantastic
range at The Cycling Centre,
Swindon's No 1 scooter dealer.
the link Magazine
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