Page 6 - link magazine

6 The Link Magazine • September 2005
Building a trust in our town
The Swindon Civic Trust was formed in 2002 in response to a long standing sense of local dissatisfaction with the results of planning for
Swindon; the town has not realised its full potential, nor responded to the needs of the people who live here, writes secretary Kate Brailsford.
For many years Civic Trusts all Our main concern at this time is For a full view of our position on Annual General Meeting with
over Britain - made up of residents the town centre which is in urgent Coate and the town centre go to guest speaker George Ferguson,
of a locality - have been working need of attention. Development www.swindoncivictrust.org.uk current President of RIBA (Royal
for improvement by coordinating must be visionary, coordinated and Our activities expanded this year Institute of British Architects) in
community organisations to have sustainable so as to produce a cen- with the launch of a talks' pro- Community Crossroads (old Rail-
a positive influence on the way tre that we can all be proud of for gramme for Civic Trust members, way Museum), Faringdon Road.
towns develop. many years to come. professionals and decision mak- George Ferguson is passionate
The Swindon Civic Trust's aims: Central to this is the location of ers. We have hosted consultations about the quality of the built envi-
• to promote high standards of the University of Bath in Swindon. to outline our proposals for the ronment. The subject of his talk is
planning, environmental sustaina- The university is hellbent on build- university, a talk on why the Na- the Power of Place in Urbanism
bility and architecture; ing its campus at Coate alongside tional Trust relocated to a which considers how urban de-
• to research, inform and educate 1,800 houses and a large business brownfield site in Swindon and sign can accommodate higher den-
the public in the geography, his- park. There was strong opposition co-sponsored an evening at May's sities, mixed uses and less depend-
tory, natural history, architecture, to this being included in the Local Swindon Festival of Literature. ence on the car to build stronger
the built environment and the proc- Plan this Spring and we await the The next event on Monday 5 communities, whilst conserving
ess of government; planning inspector's recommenda- September, 7.45pm is a showing of surrounding countryside.
• to secure the preservation, pro- tions in the Autumn. a video Jefferies' Land produced by Admission: £4 (£3 concessions).
tection, development and im- Coate Water was voted Swin- John Webb of the Richard Jefferies For details about joining Swin-
provement of features of historic don's favourite place in a Civic Society at the Community Cross- don Civic Trust contact the secre-
or public interest in the area. Trust competition in 2003. roads, Faringdon Road. Admis- tary Kate Brailsford on 495479 or
In a short time we have estab- The town centre is ready for re- sion: £2. mail: info@swindoncivictrust
lished a forum for the people and generation now; it would be a On Thursday 15 September .org.uk
groups to discuss issues relating missed opportunity to place the 7.30pm, the Civic Trust holds it www.swindoncivictrust.org.uk
to Swindon. university anywhere else.
Mechanics' hope as planning
inspector arrives to decide its future
The crumbling Mechanics' Institute could be returned to community
usage, following a decision by Swindon's planning committee in late
London trained mobile hair stylist July to throw out an application to knock down part of the Grade III
listed building and put up a ten storey blue glass box in the middle
For a visit call Sue on 07796 432 700
of it for a hotel.
or email [email protected]
Last year ing and the Rail-
owner Matthew way Village
Singh was given which is poten-
permission to de- tially a world
velop offices, heritage site.
conference facili-
"I think every-
G wdcoke ties and a restau- one accepts that
rant in the south-
the 1930's fly
ern part of the tower is pretty
building. Earlier awful, but the
this year he ap- plans submitted
plied for permis- were in my opin-
sion for a hotel ion even worse.
but English Her- There are many
itage stepped in examplesofmod-
at the eleventh ern additions to
hour to take the listed building
James Butcher Housing Association provides D dar for the Mechanics'
decision away which work very
a wide range of quality, affordable homes for from Swindon Council. well. This was not one of them."
rent or purchase in central southern England. As a result a planning enquiry In July the Mechanics' Trust sub-
on 28 September will consider ar- mitted an application for listed
We currently hold a waiting list for our two guments for the hotel and the pro- building consent, which if ac-
posal by the New Mechanics' Trust cepted, would indicate that their
rented sheltered housing schemes in Swindon
to refurbish the building for use by plans are feasible and appropriate
and hold a joint waiting list with the local community organisations, includ- to the historic character of the
authority for all other properties in Swindon. ing offices for voluntary organisa- building. Trust member Martha
tions, conference facilities, a cin- Parry has high hopes that it could
Tel: 01672 515622 or email ema, a youth venue, theatre and be successful. "Returning the
restaurants. building to community use would
[email protected], quoting reference The July planning committee's massively contribute to the regen-
marl/link for more information. decision to block the blue box eration of Swindon town centre."
pleased all who have been cam- In a 2000 report to English Her-
paigning to save the building for itage and Swindon Council, award
James Butcher the community. winning architects Fielden Clegg
Bradley, designers of the National
Committee member Fresh brook
Housing Association and Grange Park councillor Peter Trust headquarters at Church-
Greenhalgh said the proposal was ward, said it would be very diffi-
Providing accommodation throughout the central and south of England.
A charity, incorporated as an Industrial and Provident Society No. 16602 R. rejected because it was totally un- cult to find a commercially viable
sympathetic to the original build- use for the building.