WE offer no prizes to Rewind readers who can say what is missing from our aerial photo of the Link Centre in West Swindon.

It is, of course, the Shaw Ridge leisure park, which existed only as models and drawings when we last printed the image 27 years ago.

Building work began shortly afterwards.

Another photo in our archive shows one of the models. Part of the Link Centre can be seen at the far edge, with the what is now Cineworld and Tenpin Swindon on the left and the De Vere Hotel on the right.

The small building toward the top right is Pizza Hut, while the small shelter at an entrance to the park can be seen toward the middle bottom.

The developers supplied the media with a brochure detailing the plan.

“A full planning application,” it said, “has been submitted by Carter Commercial Developments Ltd (Carters) for the development of a 210,000sqft leisure park on the Shaw Ridge site opposite the Link Centre.

“This follows Carters’ selection from a shortlist of developers by Thamesdown Borough Council in August 1988.”

The scheme, the document revealed, consisted of a 10-screen multiplex cinema, a 32-lane ten pin bowling centre, a nightclub and three restaurants or bars ranging from Pizza Hut to a steak house.

The developers added: “The scheme is set in a landscaped park and will provide in the region of 950 surface car parking spaces including coach and disabled facilities.

“The scheme is expected to generate in the region of 294 full-time jobs and 198 part-time jobs.”

Plans and models were later put on public display at the Link Centre.