A PETITION calling for historic buildings to be used as part of Swindon’s new cultural quarter is gathering momentum.

Plans for the ambitious Swindon Museum and Art Gallery were unveiled in December but have not met with universal praise.

Ana Kelly, who lives in Old Town, says buildings of historical significance to the town, such as the Mechanics’ Institute Trust building and the Carriage Works in London Street, should be used to house the art gallery and an educational visitors centre

Her petition calling for restoration of the buildings and for the art gallery to be relocated to a ‘historically appropriate’ location has gathered more than 300 signatures.

Ana said: “It is absolutely criminal to leave these buildings to ruin. It should be an absolute priority to maintain these buildings that in only a couple of years will be completely unusable.

"There is quite a lot of sentiment around these buildings and they should be made fit for purpose rather than relying on a promise of funds which may not be delivered.

“Insufficient expert and wider consultation was taken before these buildings were previously dismissed.

"We ask that the new-build plans be abandoned and that more concerted efforts are made to create a new Swindon Art Gallery in a more historically-appropriate location."

The new art gallery will house a nationally significant collection of modern art, widely regarded as one of the most important of any outside London, which is currently housed in the existing museum in Old Town.

Costing £22m, the project on the site of the now demolished Wyvern car park will create a public space dedicated to art, history and science, with a café and shop.

An application has been made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £10m towards the cost of the scheme. Swindon Borough Council have pledged £5m.

Responding to the petition Swindon Museum and Art Gallery trust director Hadrian Ellory-van-Dekker said the idea although attractive was not functional.

“From reading the petition this seems to be all about regenerating the Mechanics’ Institute Building which really isn’t feasible as the building is not fit-for-purpose," he said.

“When we first started discussions around this we considered the building but realised it was not possible.

“If the building is part of the gallery it would mean the cultural quarter is disconnected and in various parts across the town which is not the vision for Swindon.”

Swindon’s cultural regeneration has captured national attention in recent months, in August the Telegraph ran an article suggesting that the town could become an unlikely addition to the British cultural itinerary if the museum was to go ahead.

To sign the petition visit change.org/p/swindon-borough-council-restore-swindon-s-heritage-buildings-for-the-new-art-gallery