Page 28 - link magazine

Swindon Wide

What now for the Health Hydro? as part of a package of leisure deal that will secure the future of
centre leases.
The Locarno in Market Square, Old
The building has turned out to Town.
be a problem for GLL, who only The £35million regeneration of
now seem to be addressing the the area will see the building reborn
particular challenges associated in three years as The Exchange.
with maintaining and running an The approach to the Corn
important historical site. Exchange has been refreshing, with
Bizarrely, while one would developer Steve Rosier involving
normally expect a feasibility lots of community groups and
study to be carried out before making himself approachable and
a significant project, GLL have open to input from all sides.
announced they are just about to In our meetings with him we
Protesters outside Swindon Council’s Civic Offices in November begin one at the Health Hydro. have also been impressed with
This move has received only a his grasp of local history and the
History column by Graham Carter is at the other end of the scale cautious welcome from local history Corn Exchange’s part in it, so his
of Swindon Heritage magazine when it comes to swimming groups, because GLL’s promise to statement after signing the deal
facilities, seriously lagging behind engage over the building’s future rang true.
If you were to draw up a list of the Government targets. No wonder the is another process one might have “People in Swindon are so
most important historical buildings town’s swimmers are up in arms. expected before they accepted the incredibly passionate about
in Swindon, then it wouldn’t be But those who care about the lease. protecting these historic buildings,”
long before you would be writing town’s heritage should also be We have no option but to give he said. “We are looking to harness
down ‘Health Hydro’. concerned about the current GLL and the council the benefit of this passion, taking inspiration
With the exception of the neglect of the Health Hydro and the the doubt for now, even though from the past to reawaken one of
Mechanics’ Institute, it is difficult suitability of any changes that may their track records are not good. Swindon’s lost treasures.”
to think of any single structure be proposed for the building. GLL have failed to turn up to It’s unclear what role, if any,
that says as much about Swindon’s Partially protected by its Grade meetings to answer concerns GLL and the council see for the
heritage. II Listing, which some say actually about the Health Hydro, while people of Swindon in the case
Opened in 1892, the Milton Road undervalues its unique role in the council’s failure to engage of our other treasured buildings,
Baths, as older Swindon people still telling the story of New Swindon, properly on other heritage matters, which is why the time has arrived
call it, provided the best health the Health Hydro nevertheless especially the future of the for those who care about our built
and wellbeing facilities available faces an uncertain future under the Mechanics’ Institute, doesn’t bode heritage to voice their concerns
to ordinary working people in the management of Greenwich Leisure well, either. over its short and long-term future.
whole of Britain. Ltd (GLL), now about half-way Perhaps everyone should follow Subscribe or buy individual copies
Now, with the building’s key through a five-year lease awarded the lead shown by Swindon Corn of Swindon Heritage magazine at
training pool closed, Swindon to it by Swindon Borough Council Exchange Ltd, which has signed a www.swindonheritage.com

28 swindonlink.com n December 2016

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