Page 25 - link magazine

!re centre m arks zu years 2F

' life, opened twenty years ago in April and in a series of articles on the building, we look back on how it came about
The piles being driven into Nigel is not impressed by the upgraded in line with current re-
the ground for the central suggestion by some within Swin- quirements and any building should
support just kept on going. don Council that Link Centre should be properly maintained to avoid
The solution was to increase be closed to save money. or per- unnecessary deterioration. Per-
he number of piles from six haps replaced on another site us- haps it is because they are taken
o ten per column after the ing private finance initiative fund- for granted. but I don't think people
oof was built. ing. "Thamesdown Council hadtre- realise how much Link Centre and
Nigel is proud of another mendous foresight to build such an the council's other recreation facili-
nnovation. "Refrigerating all-encompassing building. At the ties enrich the Swindon commu-
he ice rink and warming the ti me £9 million, including the com- nity."
wimming pool demand a munity centres, was a lot, but the • Link Centre and the West Swin-
of of energy so we commis- tax payers of Swindon got a very don library are planning a series of
ioned a new kind of heat good deal. To replace the facilities events and displays to mark the
xchange system, one of the on offer would probably cost ten twentieth anniversary.
irst of its kind in the world ti mes that amount. • What are your memories of the
nd the first time the equip- "Link Centre has a lot of life left in Link Centre? Contact The Link
ent had been installed in it, though equipment needs to be magazine. Address on page 4.
ritain. Consequently the
entre won a string of en-
rgy saving awards."
Nigel recalls an engineer from ing. But youth anti-social behav- CAL
exas was called in when the ice iour caused major problems. re- QQLINc COLLIS
rink was being built to ensure an sulting in a change of designation
y Hfairdressing, Beauty c 9-fofistic Therapies
en temperature across the ice and use of security officers to re-
urface, whilst the heat exchange strict entry where necessary.
equipment came from Japan with The ice rink doors opened to the
instructions in French. public just eighteen months after Valentine's Day
The fire officer at the time made planning permission was given, a
severe demands on the design remarkable achievement given the Gift vouchers available for
team to create separate architects and engi- your loved ones
areas in the building, as neers were working on
Competition
well as a requirement to the details as building
Guess how many Peatmoor Village Centre rt *^^,p
evacuate 3.000 people was going on. and the
within three minutes. people use Link Centre problems with the foun-
every year? Swindon
This added considerable dations.
Send your entries to Tel: 01793 887800
cost, such as the fire Nigel is keen to point
The Link on page 4 by
safety glass between the out that Link Centre
14 Februa ry.
mall and the sports hall. owes little to Lord Nor-
Prize: a unique photograph
Another problem never man Foster's much pub- Studley Grange
Lin k e s over
C
adequately dealt with li cised Renault distribu- garden & teitkure park
Link Centre' C- .^ft l1/L^
Lin
f
was reducing the effect tion centre on Mead
of noise between different parts of Way, under a mile away. "The
the building. Renault building is much smaller
The council required an open and full of columns which makes
access building and for the first few internal use difficult. Our task was
years The Mall was part of the to create large spaces in the most
public highway through the build- cost effective way. Link Centre is
very flexible in that the walls do not
U
support the roof so it is relatively
straightforward to rebuild or refur-
Open daily -^1°^d ► d:.
bish different parts.
Summer: 1 Oam - 6pm ;il
"I think the building looks well for Winter : 9am - dusk y` ^.
its age. considering the number of Season tickets available - Full disabled access
-
people who use it, though it needs Tailored educational visits - Group visits welcome , • . —
Large gift shop - Free parking for cars and coaches n _" , '' r.
cleaning and some of the cladding Tel:01793 852400 info:studleygrange.co.uk A ws"" f e
could be replaced. I'm surprised by
how little has changed: I'm sorry A FAMILY DAY OUT THATS FULL OF INTEREST AND A GREAT VENUE FOR BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
the arts suite was closed, but it p$ople %taft'td. Q o i, ferris photo graphics studio
reflects changing current interests, natural contemporary family
Paint mugs, plates 117
oIflA { towards West Swindon I can see why the space is now a and bowls that are -; and childrens portraits,
y
tv Ridge as construction of gym and I like how the climbing fatl useable.
gets underway area has been developed and inte- Tel 01793 849372 - ,.
grated into the sports hall." n
^ email info@ferrisphotgraphics
y
Interactive Pla for all web http://www.ferrisphotographics
tel 07765 197810
Tel 01793 855566
swneon
Creates p S„u: ` t ' uv ov ,' t<
1 Ua tc't a to t Ca (eYJ
Sio *pLnf ScraybosO. Cu,e., ci,,4 J tse Pn
P
woollen Basalt
Plaster models
V.A Pain+in9 area
Butterfly World Pie seer caning ktis
for rate
Tel/Fax 01793 855 377 e are Tel 01793 855850
ere
Garden Centre