A TOWN centre councillor has spoken up for the reputation of the Manchester Road and County Road area following their negative portrayal in the national media as red light zones that are rife with prostitution.

Coun Bob Wright (Lab - Central) made the intervention at last week's full council meeting as he urged his fellow councillors to consider how decisions they take impact the image of Swindon in the rest of the country.

In years gone by, the streets around Manchester Road became known as an area where sex workers would operate in reasonably large numbers.

Local residents have worked hard, with much success, to rid their neighbourhood of that reputation over recent years.

But now the coverage of double murderer Christopher Halliwell’s trial has led to it resurfacing.

Halliwell, who was sentenced last week to a whole life term, had a history of soliciting for prostitution around Manchester Road and it was there that he came to know Becky Godden who he ultimately went on to murder.

Swindon resident Brian Cockbill, of Stratton, raised the issue during the public question time portion of last week's council meeting.

He said: “The public perception of our town in the press is very often not what it ought to be.

“The recent publicity regarding the horrible circumstances around that murder trial hasn’t helped.

“According to the comments in the media, prostitution is rife in the town."

He asked what councillors intended to do about the issue.

The leader of the council, David Renard, informed the chamber that work was ongoing, particularly with the business community, on ways to brand the town more positively.

He said: “We need to do more and keep saying what a great place Swindon is and what a great place it is to live, work and visit.”

Coun Wright told the chamber that he shared the concerns raised by Mr Cockbill and urged his fellow councillors to consider their importance.

He said: “I’ve written a letter to the leader of the council about comments on Radio 4 that the Broad Green and Manchester Road area is a ‘red light district’.

“I believe part of the issue is the central action plan allowing a change of use that turned a traditional housing area into a set of shops that exist purely on the sale of alcohol.

“Any future plans of that nature need to recognise that people outside of Swindon are now classing that development, to our shame, as a red light district.

“You and I know it is not – in fact many councillors from this chamber shop in the area.

“We have to rectify the picture of this town that was put out after the tragic death and trial of that taxi driver.

“We cannot leave the picture of Manchester Road and County Road as our red light district.

“As previously stated by Mr Cockbill, we need a change of image.”