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8 swindonlink.com • November 2010
Tailor-made Men’s shoes Mechanics’ Institution gets
by SueLynn an outstanding selection emergency attention
Curtains • Church’s • Padders After standing ever more derelict for several years, Swindon Council
finally took action by taking possession of the historic Mechanics’ In-
Pelmets • Loakes • Clarks stitution in the town centre to make it weather tight to protect against
Roman blinds • Barker • Rohde further deterioration
Swags & tails • Rieker • Anatomic
Cushion covers Gel
Fitting service available Also an extensive range
of slippers now in stock
No job too small Blaylocks
For further information call Bath Road Corner
Sue: 01793 870451 or Old Town, Swindon
Lynn: on 01793 330595 Tel: 534271
Lifting the roof at the Mechanics. See more pictures at www.swindonlink.com
However, repair work to the roof continually shut out of discussions
revealed severe weakness and it had with the council and other ‘inter-
to be removed in September and ested’ parties.”
October. The total cost to make the Daniel Rose reinforced the posi-
Grade II* listed building safe will tion that the trust has held for many
be over £1 million, partly funded years. “We want the building to be
by an English Heritage grant, with restored to its former function, as
Swindon Borough Council looking a facility for the good of the com-
to recover the remainder from the munity, but with a modern twist.
current owner Matthew Singh. “Our plans include a theatre,
“It’s been a very busy few weeks, independent cinema, units for
and the works that are currently go- independent retailers and a confer-
ing on are shining a bright light on ence and events venue. We want
the issue of the Institution, which it to be self-sustaining, without
we’re viewing as an opportunity losing or compromising its historic
rather than a problem,” said Daniel significance.”
Rose, chair of the New Mechan- Against a back drop of public
ics’ Institution Preservation Trust commentary - some critical of the
(NMIPT). trust’s long held position - Daniel is
“Since the late 1980s three differ- very clear that this is a time to build
ent private speculative owners of a constructive relationship with
the building have each submitted English Heritage and Swindon Bor-
plans for its redevelopment, but ough Council, with hopes of closer
not one of them has been able to involvement by the National Trust.
obtain listed building consent for “There’s been a lot of misinforma-
their proposals. The trust is the tion floating around - particularly
only organisation that has secured online - but the fact is that the trust
listed building consent for plans has been absolutely right in its in-
submitted a number of years ago.” terpretation of the planning system.
The Trust - formed in 1995 - wants We have done everything we can to
to see the 150 year old building come safeguard the Mechanics’ Institu-
back into community ownership, tion’s importance as a landmark
and is calling on the council to help building in Swindon.
resolve the ownership situation. “We’re now reaching a real
Former councillor and chair of the crunch period and it’s vital that ev-
planning committee, Lisa Hawkes, eryone concerned about Swindon’s
now a New Mechanics’ Trustee, heritage and the Mechanics’ Insti-
said, “Swindon Borough Council tution pulls together and doesn’t
can compulsorily purchase the give up on it. We’ve got to stand
building and transfer it to a Devel- firm and not just settle for anything
opment Trust (which the NMIPT is), because the building is seen to be
through the Asset Transfer Scheme in a bad way.
for very little or even no cost to the “The trust welcomes people who
local taxpayer. care about what happens to this icon
“It is criminal that the NMIPT of Swindon.”
trustees have been repeatedly and www.new-mechanics.com
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