Swindon’s own version of Monopoly is launched (From Swindon Advertiser)

Swindon’s own version of Monopoly is launched

5:35pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By Matthew Edwards

GAME ON Launching the Swindon Monopoly version is Mayor Mick Bray, with Stuart Webb Lydiard Park Manager, Emma Valentine of Lydiard Park, Councillors Nick Martin, Rod Bluh, Garry Perkins and Winning Moves UK’s Dan Taylor Picture: THOMAS KESLEY

IS LYDIARD Park the Mayfair of Swindon? Or is Commercial Road the new Oxford Street?

Residents are being encouraged to have their say on what could feature on the Swindon version of Monopoly.

The board game was officially launched yesterday and is already being predicted to be one of the biggest sellers this Christmas.

Board game manufacturers Winning Moves have been granted the licence to produce a Swindon version of the iconic game and it is expected to be in the shops by October.

Dan Taylor, Monopoly manager at Winning Moves UK, said: “We are very excited about introducing Swindon to the world of Monopoly and we want residents of Swindon to get involved with what they want to see on the board.

“Swindon has a rich history, it is obviously famous for it’s railway heritage and Lydiard Park is a great feature of the town, and Swindon is really a place that is on the rise.

“We think this could be one of the biggest sellers this Christmas.

“We are looking for as many suggestions for places in Swindon that deserve to make it onto the board.

“It could be somewhere that you like to go at the weekend, or something at the heart of a community.

“We want people to get as creative as they can, who do they think are the Mayfair or the Old Kent Road of Swindon.”

Some of the towns top figures have already been making suggestions for the game and Lydiard Park seems to be the top of the list.

Mayor Mick Bray said: “I think it is a great idea, it is one of the biggest games and to have a Swindon edition is a brilliant thing for the town.

“It will be interesting to see which places get put on the board, Lydiard Park will have to be the Mayfair of Swindon.

“I feel the heritage is here in Swindon to make it work with the railway heritage and the parks like Coate Water.

“Swindon does get a lot of bad press and this is a great way to celebrate the town.”

Council leader Rod Bluh is hoping that his street is not burdened with the same spot as Old Kent Road, but would like to see the town’s railway heritage strongly reflected on the board.

He said: “It is really great that Swindon is going to feature on the most popular board games ever.

“It is great the community are going to be able to have a say in the places that feature on the board.

“Some places are obvious like Lydiard Park has to be Mayfair and the Steam Museum should be Park Lane.

“I don’t want to suggest what might be Old Kent Road.”

People will be able to go online and nominate their choices as well as their suggestions for ways Winning Moves can give the game a Swindon feel.

To make a suggestion you should visit www.facebook.com/ swindonmonopoly or email swindon@winningmoves.co.uk.

The company are open to suggestions until April 12 when production will begin ready for an October release, extensively online, and all toy and book stores.