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Community News

Queens Drive to benefit from multi-million News in brief

pound regeneration project
Reboot anniversary
A major gateway into Swindon will
benefit from a £23m regeneration Project Reboot, a Computer
project and building could start in Swindon Refurbishing Project managed
12 months’ time. by the ‘Swindon Children’s
Positive
Under the plans, 122 non- Scrapstore’ celebrates its second
traditionally built council homes anniversary on January 2017.
will be demolished and replaced The project provides quality,
with 160 new modern properties low-cost refurbished computers,
along Queens Drive. laptops and related IT tech to
The proposed regeneration local people who either cannot
sites include sheltered housing afford to buy new or who prefer
accommodation George Gay to buy recycled/refurbished tech
Gardens, the area south of Wolsely to help save the environment.
Road and St Ives Court on Tyneham Swindon Children’s Scrapstore,
Road and would be included in a registered environmental
three phases. charity, community resource
It forms part of Swindon centre and social enterprise set
Borough’s Pledge 7, to build up Project Reboot in January
more affordable homes including 2015 with a grant of £8,667
200 council homes and 66 units funding from the Big Lottery.
through the Affordable Housing www.scrapstore.co.uk
Development programme. additional units to help fund them. older housing with modern
All three council-owned sites The remainder of the cost will accommodation, which will be of Prime opportunity
require significant investment come from borrowing against the huge benefit to our tenants. Prime Theatre is one of just five
with George Gay Gardens deemed future rental income. “It is great that we are replacing theatre companies across England
no longer fit for purpose. The The new development, which and improving our housing stock to be awarded a placement with
proposed demolition of the 50 was approved by Swindon Borough with affordable housing not just the Regional Theatre Young
flats at the sheltered housing Council’s cabinet earlier this at this Queens Drive location but Director Scheme (RTYDS), the
scheme would provide the Council month, would include an improved at half a dozen other sites across country’s longest running and
with the opportunity to build an public realm and follows on from the town in line with our pledge most influential training scheme
extra-care facility which would the soon-to-be-completed £9.6m to build more affordable homes in for new directors.
support people with dementia to Sussex Place development which Swindon.” Local director Olly Webb, 21, has
live as independently as possible is providing just under 50 new Cllr Derique Montaux, (Lab - joined Prime Theatre on a three
or could be used as a mixed tenure homes. Liden, Eldene and Park South) month placement. Prime Theatre,
residential housing scheme. Cllr Oliver Donachie, Swindon said: “The people in the sheltered is a youth-orientated company,
The second phase of the Borough Council’s Cabinet Member accommodation at George based at the Wyvern Theatre.
regeneration would involve building for Housing and Homelessness, Gay Gardens are moving into a
10 homes for sale on the site of said: “Sussex Place is a great settled time of their lives, and Raise the rafters
the current St Ives Court, which example of how regeneration can many enjoy where they are. I Swindon Community Choir -
would then provide the funding for transform a neighbourhood and welcome any improved housing the town’s longest running
the demolition of 36 flats at the I look forward to seeing similar conditions for these people, and community choir is offering the
T-Blocks that face onto Queens improvements being made further the improvements to Swindon’s
Drive, south of Wolsely Road. along Queens Drive. infrastructure, but the human cost chance for new members to get
involved. The group meets at the
Construction is likely to start from “The regeneration scheme must be taken into account. Central Community Hall, Railway
late 2017 up until 2020. will breathe new life into this “The retirees need to be fully Village. Sessions cost £7 per
The council’s Housing Revenue part of Swindon, bringing jobs considered and we need to be
Account would replace rented and replacing the outdated sensitive to their needs during any session with refreshments. For
units, and use revenue from selling and expensive to maintain transitional period such as this.” more information, phone Linda
Lee on 01793 875184/ 07570
Arkell’s Brewery celebrates buying iconic Swindon bar or check the group’s website
www.swindon.singtastic.co.uk or
811873.
Arkell’s Brewery has announced
during January that it has acquired Dressability talk
Rudi’s Bar & Kitchen at Regents
Circus in central Swindon, following This month’s meeting of the
the retirement of its current owners, Swindon Osteoporosis Support
Group will be “Dressability”.
Paul and Lyn Notton. This Swindon-based charity
Brewery chairman, James Arkell,
said: “Rudi’s has been run very provides a low cost dressmaking
successfully by Paul and Lyn and and alteration service for
their family for 30 years. It is in an people with disabilities. The
meeting is on Friday, 10 February
iconic location in central Swindon at 1.30pm at the Central
and will be run by tenant licensee
Shaun Montague. Katie and Mario “Rudi’s is a real meeting place,” especially in the evening when its Community Centre, Emlyn Square,
and other existing staff are also added James. “Everyone visiting colourful neon signage is lit up. It’s Swindon, SN1 5BP. Entrance
remaining. We are delighted with Swindon spots Rudi’s 1930s been 30 years in the making, and is £2.50. Call Ali on 634424 or
email swindonosteoporosis@
the way things are and have no art deco building when they now we’re looking forward to the googlemail.com.
plans to change. drive through the town centre, next 30 years.”
swindonlink.com n February 2017 5

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