Page 9 - link magazine

Community News

Save Swindon’s Heritage group set up

L-R: Dr Mike Pringle and Graham Carter assessing the damage caused by fire at
the Coate Water Agricultural Museum on New Years Eve
Following the announcement that Jeffries museum, situated close
parts of Swindon’s Health Hydro to the site of the fire, said: “It’s
could be converted into flats and tragic and heartbreaking but I’ve
the loss of the Agricultural Museum been trying to get artefacts out on
building at Coate Water due to a display at Richard Jefferies from
fire over the festive period, a new the Agricultural museum for years.
group has been set up via social We’d happily display any of those
media for local people concerned items, but now we will have to pick
about Swindon’s heritage. through what remains.
Set up by Sally Hawson on “It’s really important to stress that
Facebook, the Save Swindon’s this is an ideal time for the Council
Heritage group has begun a petition to tick all of the boxes and give
via Change.org to save the Health those who are passionate about
Hydro on Milton Road from plans by Swindon’s heritage the chance to
GLL to turn sections of the building embrace it and put it on show.”
into housing, which has already Cllr Garry Perkins, Swindon
surpassed 650 signatures in January Borough Council’s Cabinet Member
alone. for the Economy, Regeneration
The group are also actively and Skills, said: “We are more than
sharing updates on the progress happy to work with Mike and his
of works to save artefacts within team at Richard Jefferies to get
the Agricultural Museum, which these items on show, and I want to
was gutted by fire on 31 December see these on public display. There is
2016, which Wiltshire and Dorset a possibility we could show some at
Fire and Rescue service have Lydiard, but we need to go through
confirmed was not due to arson. everything and catalogue what is
Dr Mike Pringle of the Richard available.”
North Star ski development receives last
minute reprieve

A property investment company Skills, said: “It was a bold call to
has submitted a proposal to serve the notice of termination on
take over the scheme to create a Moirai, but we had to take that
regional leisure hub at North Star in action to kick-start this hugely
Swindon. exciting scheme and get it moving.
Seven Capital Investments Ltd, “Our decision has been vindicated
which is one of the UK’s leading as a major investor has stepped
private capital investors, has agreed forward with an impressive track SALE NOW ON
in principle to acquire control of record of developing major schemes,
Moirai Capital Investments in order which is willing to pick up the
to take forward plans to transform baton from Moirai and help us
North Star with more than £100m deliver what will be a landmark
of investment. regeneration project for the town.”
Moirai was given until 12 January Swindon’s Labour group leader
2017 to fulfil the terms of the Cllr Jim Grant said: “Instead of
notice or see the development crowing about resurrecting this
agreement terminated. But deal, Councillor Perkins should be
following the proposal by Seven apologising to local businesses who
Capital, the council withdrew the have not received money owed to
notice of termination on 11 January. them by Moirai.
If Seven Capital’s proposals are “The fact Moirai have had to
supported by cabinet, detailed find another company to fund the
planning proposals could be project shows that they had no
submitted later this year. financial backing in the first place,
Cllr Garry Perkins, Swindon bringing in to question the council’s
Borough Council’s cabinet member ability to carry out due diligence
for the Economy, Regeneration and before agreeing these contracts.”
swindonlink.com n February 2017 9

SE February 2017 Master Pages.indd 9 19/01/2017 16:02