Page 18 - link magazine

Swindon Wide

We aim to safeguard heritage - as
Protecting our heritage must be a priority our mission statement demands - by
By Graham Carter of Swindon role in moving forward the dream speaking up when we think the
Heritage magazine of bringing Swindon’s last tram local authority is getting it wrong,
Do you want the good news or the back to the town. and by restoring balance when we
bad news? So there are plenty of reasons to think councillors are given ample
Many a light-hearted be cheerful, and it all fits nicely opportunity to put their side of the
conversation has begun like this, with two thirds of our mission, story in the local press.
but when you publish a magazine which is “to celebrate, promote But sometimes just getting to the Swindon’s last tram could be moving
about Swindon’s heritage, deciding and safeguard Swindon’s heritage”. heart of the history does the trick back to the town
on whether to deliver good news or But how do we satisfy that of educating people about why it is
bad news is crucial. awkward third aim? What can we special, and that is the first step to
When we founded our magazine do to safeguard it? safeguarding it.
in 2013, it was a determined In the face of some disappointing So in our new edition we reveal
attempt to be positive about our decisions and actions by Swindon new research that is putting the
town, because we genuinely feel Borough Council since we spotlight on the national importance
proud of Swindon, its people published our winter edition, we of the Health Hydro, as well as
and their achievements, and we are faced with the dilemma of how reporting on the appalling handling
strongly believed our heritage was to handle all that bad news in our of the aftermath of the fire at the
being understated. spring edition. Agricultural Museum at Coate.
With four years and now (with So much has happened since We run the risk of being accused
the publication of our new Spring we last went to print that a new by councillors of putting undue
2017 edition) seventeen 84-page organisation has even been formed emphasis on the bad news about
editions under our belts, we are as a response, the Facebook group heritage in Swindon, but if that
still finding plenty of positive Save Swindon’s Heritage rapidly happens it will not be the first time.
things to say about our amazingly drawing in more than a thousand As a self-funded, not-for-profit sometimes also speaking out, then
so be it.
rich heritage. members because of the proposed CIC (community interest company) Hopefully the pages of our new
And we are the bearers of good conversion of the Health Hydro where everyone who puts the spring edition will emphasize why
news again, including the opening into flats and other threats to our magazine together or organises it is time for attitudes to change
of a mini-museum at Highworth; heritage. our projects and events does it
the latest on the ambitious So it would be wrong of us to voluntarily, we are united by our in Swindon, where heritage is
sometimes cast as a liability by a
project to restore the glories of concentrate only on the positives mission to celebrate our heritage cash-strapped Council, when we
the exquisite St Mary’s Church at in the town’s heritage when so and promote a better image for would all benefit if we simply saw it
Lydiard Tregoze; and a makeover many of us feel powerless and Swindon. for the huge asset that it is.
for Christ Church. angry about the negative things And if doing our bit to safeguard
We are also excited about our that are happening in Swindon. it also means not just educating but www.swindonheritage.com

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