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The Centre of Controversy
8:27pm Sunday 27th April 2008
Comments (61)
THE regeneration of the town centre has divided the candidates like no other topic.
With recent Adver reports on the canal project prompting a huge reaction, it is clear that everyone has strong views on the future of Swindon's town centre.
Lib Dem leader Stan Pajak (Eastcott) said: "The Liberal Democrats believe we have a once in a lifetime opportunity with the regeneration of Swindon centre, but that we must preserve and develop local services and facilities as well.
"We will oppose the canal project, using the developer's funds for projects that will benefit the wider population better.
"We will promote the development of the Mechanics' Institute as part of the new museum and art gallery complex and the restoration of Milton Road baths.
"We will create a cultural quarter in the redeveloped town centre and will fight to keep local post offices and libraries open for the benefit of their communities."
Swindon Council leader Rod Bluh (Con, Dorcan) said: "The Conservatives are building a better Swindon.
"Major areas of the town are being transformed following years of Labour inaction.
"We will continue with these ambitious projects, including: major improvements to the town centre, the transformation of the Regent Circus/Swindon College area and the restoration and regeneration of our historic buildings.
"There is a lot of misinformation regarding the proposed canal.
"The truth is, it is still only an idea for discussion, and will only happen if private funding is available and it is guaranteed not to burden taxpayers.
"Remember, only the Conservatives have the vision to build a better Swindon."
Deputy Labour leader, Fay Howard (Parks) said that her party would ensure the canal plan is dead in the water.
She said: "Labour will cancel the canal through central Swindon, saving £60m and Swindon from traffic chaos.
"The Tories failed in their promise of providing 300 affordable homes per year. Our priority is 40 per cent affordable homes to buy or rent in all new developments.
"We will maintain and speed up the redevelopment of town centre, ensuring that the benefits are shared by all, especially existing residents.
"We will establish urban regeneration programmes in deprived areas, raising skill levels and tackling health inequalities with strategic partnerships.
"We will invest significantly in drainage to aid those most vulnerable to flooding.
"We will also invest in better highway maintenance and tackle the pothole blight."
Swindon UKIP chairman and St Margaret ward candidate, Robert Feal-Martinez, said: "Much has been written about the delays in regeneration and the apparent secrecy with which this is being handled.
"UKIP believe in local democracy. It is therefore vital that the public have their say in any development, even deciding what they want included not necessarily what councillors and developers want. We would give them that choice.
"The canal project was massively rejected by the people of Swindon in the Advertiser poll. It would therefore be right and proper for a local referendum on this issue.
"As a group, Swindon UKIP are split on whether there should be a canal. We would, however, honour the wishes of local people in such a referendum."
Michael Morton, independent candidate for Western ward, said: "The aim should be to get the traffic moving in the town, filling in pot holes and by the building of the Cheney Manor Road relief road.
"The canal could be built around the town if viable with section 106 monies, but not through the town, especially when you tie it in with their proposed extension north link to Moulden Hill via the Bruce Street bridges area.
"I would not build on greenfield sites such as the rear of Ferndale Road, or school playing fields.
"The town centre build should allow sufficient space for small business at affordable rents rather than create a high street of large multi-town retailers."
David Cox, independent candidate for Central ward, did not supply any information on his policies regarding regeneration.
Your Say YourSwindon Advertiser
WTF?, Swindon says...
8:53pm Sun 27 Apr 08
None of their pledges can be delivered unless they re-write history or spend millions and millions of pounds - which isn't possible as Keith Small needs stationery!
Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
9:22pm Sun 27 Apr 08
Jason, says...
10:48pm Sun 27 Apr 08
Swindon Council leader Rod Bluh (Con, Dorcan) said: "The Conservatives are building a better Swindon.
Fantastic
"We will continue with these ambitious projects, including: major improvements to the town centre, the transformation of the Regent Circus/Swindon College area and the restoration and regeneration of our historic buildings .
So the (successful) voluntary youth groups were kicked out of the Former Railway Museum (more flats perhaps?)
Matthew Singh still owns the Mechanics' even though he so proudly stated, on national TV, that he doesn't give a stuff about it's historic / heritage value.
A deal was brokered, (and boasted about, in The Guardian newspaper) By your previous leader, to destroy the historic landscape of Coate.
Yeah right.
We all know how to tell if "politician are lying...just see if their lips are moving
Mrs Hullabaloo, Kent Road, Old Town says...
10:56pm Sun 27 Apr 08
It was our Government, the ones in Whitehall, who took away the main source of revenue from the Post Office, namely: benefit payments.
It was TV licensing who took that money making activity away from Post Offices
DVLA, another Government Department, removed further work from Post Offices in connection with vehicle tax discs
Post Office Counters and Royal Mail are two separate businesses, so complaints about changes to postal regimes do not affect the Post Offices
None of the above factors has any connection with the EU, but the Eurosceptics don't want to think about anything other than Eurobashing.
On re-reading my comments above, I have just come up with an idea on how the Real-Martinez can save the post office... if he stops posting his comments on this website, and instead buys a postage stamp - he can post in his comments to the Letters Pages on a daily basis!!
Andy poulton, Swindon says...
11:12pm Sun 27 Apr 08
Captain T, Swindon says...
11:13pm Sun 27 Apr 08
The other I want to see, is someone pledging to issue a CPO for the Mechanics and get it restored and put back to the community. No 20 story glass hotels, no demolition or fancy nightclubs. Just a professional restoration and something to celebrate Swindon. How about charting the GWR, the workers and their families? After all, isn't that what the Mechanics was built for?
jo-ent, Swindon says...
12:08am Mon 28 Apr 08
http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/hi/england/wilts
hire/4435278.stm
Polymath, Swindon says...
4:06am Mon 28 Apr 08
H, Up the Hill says...
8:12am Mon 28 Apr 08
Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
8:40am Mon 28 Apr 08
POST OFFICE CLOSURES
Under Article 88 of the Treaty of Amsterdam (signed in 1997), the British Government has to seek permission from the EU Commission to give up to £150 million in state aid to our Post Office. They were allowed to do this to the sum of up to £150 million annually for three years (97/67/EC). Subsequently, EU Directive 2002/39/EC, amended the earlier directive. Finally, Jack Straw, the former Foreign Secretary, received a twenty page document C(2003)1652 telling our Government what it could and could not do. Neelie Kroes, the EU Competition Commissioner, said she was happy to endorse measures to run from April 2006 to March 2008 now that the Government had agreed to axe 3,000 sub-post offices.
Member states are required to ensure that mail deliveries are provided across their country for the same price, with at least one delivery and one collection five times per week. Governments will be allowed to choose their method of doing this, either through state aid, compensation funds, cost sharing or other means. But national postal operators will no longer have a monopoly over distribution of any type of mail, including letters below the weight of 50 grammes. Therefore, Royal Mail will lose its monopoly, and with it some of its most profitable business, but will still have a universal service obligation. UK taxpayers may have to subsidise Royal Mail revenues, with the effect that taxpayers lose while investors and other licensed postal operators gain. (euobserver.com )
Terence, Swindon says...
8:41am Mon 28 Apr 08
Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
9:11am Mon 28 Apr 08
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
9:56am Mon 28 Apr 08
Hmm, although I'm against the building of the canal, even I know that the money would come from developers and Lottery money (no news about the upkeep costs). So how can she say the Labour Party will save £60m.
What do I do for the election? I don't want to vote Conservative because of the canal. I don't want to vote Labour as they can't get their facts rights. Sorry Lib Dems and UKIP but in Western ward, you've not got a big voter base to be a threat to the other two.
Frontier(s), says...
10:01am Mon 28 Apr 08
All I can say is that you'd have thought you were a million miles away from Swindon, rather than 30.
The streets were clean, the shops were varied, some independent and well presented. There were numerous high quality restaurants to choose from, the bars were very busy (as were the streets) but we saw well dressed, good looking and well behaved people as the majority.
Swindon has been so far left behind by the towns and cities around it's barely believable. Whatever they do now will really just be playing catch-up.
angry monkey, Swindon says...
10:28am Mon 28 Apr 08
Terence, Swindon says...
10:48am Mon 28 Apr 08
I do agree with you that the Lisbon Treaty is scandalous; it is a mockery of democracy to ask people what they want and then to disregard their answer.
One more thing, I think you are incorrect about the name of the flag. My understanding is that 'Union Jack' is synonymous with 'Union Flag'.
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
10:52am Mon 28 Apr 08
One more thing, I think you are incorrect about the name of the flag. My understanding is that 'Union Jack' is synonymous with 'Union Flag'.
Bob's correct on that one - it's the Union Flag for us landlubbers :)
emmylou83, Stratton says...
10:54am Mon 28 Apr 08
angry monkey wrote:Hahaha angry monkey you do make me laugh, although personally I find Bath a bit poncy (sp?) give me leeds, newcastle or nottingham any day
I agree with Frontier(s) we should shoot the ugly people in order to be more like Bath.
Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
11:07am Mon 28 Apr 08
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
11:09am Mon 28 Apr 08
See you tonight LodB
Indeed. I'll be popping into the Carpenter's beforehand, as I'm leaving straight from work. Might actually get to read my paper for once!
emmylou83, Stratton says...
11:12am Mon 28 Apr 08
Indeed. I'll be popping into the Carpenter's beforehand, as I'm leaving straight from work. Might actually get to read my paper for once!
Lordb don't you finish work at like 5? you'll be sat round for an age and a half
Frontier(s), says...
11:14am Mon 28 Apr 08
emmylou83 wrote:Nottingham?
angry monkey wrote: I agree with Frontier(s) we should shoot the ugly people in order to be more like Bath.Hahaha angry monkey you do make me laugh, although personally I find Bath a bit poncy (sp?) give me leeds, newcastle or nottingham any day
The gun crime capital of the UK??
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
11:17am Mon 28 Apr 08
Lordb don't you finish work at like 5? you'll be sat round for an age and a half
Bus for South Marston doesn't leave until 6.15. I'll get to hang around with all the winos in the bus station from 5.30 when my bus gets in...
Wonder if Boswells is busy at that time of day lol.
emmylou83, Stratton says...
11:24am Mon 28 Apr 08
Frontier(s) wrote:Fantabulous for a night out though and I walked back to the hotel alone at 2am without being raped or mugged my friend was very surprised but as everyone knows I am invincable.
emmylou83 wrote:Nottingham? The gun crime capital of the UK??angry monkey wrote: I agree with Frontier(s) we should shoot the ugly people in order to be more like Bath.Hahaha angry monkey you do make me laugh, although personally I find Bath a bit poncy (sp?) give me leeds, newcastle or nottingham any day
Good shops too and it was winter so they had the ice rink in the centre was so pretty and they have trams I was very excited :o)
emmylou83, Stratton says...
11:25am Mon 28 Apr 08
LordBelacqua wrote:ah ok I'll still be working so spare a thought for me when I drag my behind in the door at 9pm tonight :(
Lordb don't you finish work at like 5? you'll be sat round for an age and a halfBus for South Marston doesn't leave until 6.15. I'll get to hang around with all the winos in the bus station from 5.30 when my bus gets in... Wonder if Boswells is busy at that time of day lol.
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
11:29am Mon 28 Apr 08
I'll think of you when I'm at the pub though :) my phone's always on lol
emmylou83, Stratton says...
11:32am Mon 28 Apr 08
Emmy you are a bloody danger to yourself!
So people tell me :o) anyway we're going off topic and will get shouted at.
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
11:37am Mon 28 Apr 08
emmylou83 wrote:Ergo we should maintain this tangent :)
Emmy you are a bloody danger to yourself!So people tell me :o) anyway we're going off topic and will get shouted at.
Robert Feal-Martinez, Swindon says...
11:45am Mon 28 Apr 08
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
11:49am Mon 28 Apr 08
Robert Feal-Martinez wrote:Not a problem - I just want the peace and quiet!
LordB, you're most welcome but I will already be at the Nightingale, press and stuff.
sear**, Stratton says...
12:12pm Mon 28 Apr 08
All I can say is that you'd have thought you were a million miles away from Swindon, rather than 30.
quote
I completely agree with this. For those of you who are planning on visiting bath in the near future, i ask that you take 5 seconds of your time to look up whilst in Bath centre. What do you see? Culture! The buildings are beautiful, the centre is clean and smart. swindon in my opinoin is one big concrete block. Although i am fond the canal ides i am a little less than confident that it will change the views about Swindon of visitors and residents. Ok so it will be nice whilst it's new but how long before we see shopping trolleys amongst reed?
Ankh, Morpork says...
12:33pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Frontier(s) Wrote: I spent most of the day and evening in Bath last Saturday.
I hope you kept topping up with hot water, because I bet that was freezing and you must have looked like a prune.
emmylou83, Stratton says...
1:18pm Mon 28 Apr 08
LordBelacqua wrote:Ok Guess what I;m getting today :o) Wii Fit yay!!!!!
emmylou83 wrote:Ergo we should maintain this tangent :)Emmy you are a bloody danger to yourself!So people tell me :o) anyway we're going off topic and will get shouted at.
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
1:56pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Ok Guess what I;m getting today :o) Wii Fit yay!!!!!
Haha, I'll stick to CoD4 ta!
angry monkey, Swindon says...
1:59pm Mon 28 Apr 08
sear** wrote:I appreciate what you are saying, and it is true.
I spent most of the day and evening in Bath last Saturday. All I can say is that you'd have thought you were a million miles away from Swindon, rather than 30.quoteI completely agree with this. For those of you who are planning on visiting bath in the near future, i ask that you take 5 seconds of your time to look up whilst in Bath centre. What do you see? Culture! The buildings are beautiful, the centre is clean and smart. swindon in my opinoin is one big concrete block. Although i am fond the canal ides i am a little less than confident that it will change the views about Swindon of visitors and residents. Ok so it will be nice whilst it's new but how long before we see shopping trolleys amongst reed?
BUT, Bath city centre has centuries old history - Swindon will never have that, the places are incomparable from that point of view. Most city / town centres in the uk are nothing like Bath
Frontier(s), says...
2:18pm Mon 28 Apr 08
In Swindon we don't even seem to do that. There seems to be some weird delight in pandering to chavs and the under-classes that blight this town.
I know there's not much money here but surely it's better to try and attract people with money and a modicum of class, rather than dumb everything down to the lowest common denominator?
Frontier(s), says...
2:27pm Mon 28 Apr 08
If that doesn't just sum Swindon up perfectly, I don't know what does.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
2:32pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Anyway back on thread. I think that the problem is, that Swindon is trying to aspire to be another place, i.e. Reading, Bath, Manchester etc. We should be proud of our heritage and use that to inspire us, and not be Bath/ReadingManchest
er's poorer cheap knockoff dodgy brother.
However, we can never match these towns when the only shops that we can attract are chain stores and cheap tact stores, who are the only companys that can afford the rent that the rental companies in the Brunel Centre and the rest of the shopping area in town.
There is a need for different independent shops and resturants and cafes but Swindon need to entice them with a carrot i.e. cheap rents.
emmylou83, Stratton says...
2:36pm Mon 28 Apr 08
There is a need for different independent shops and resturants and cafes but Swindon need to entice them with a carrot i.e. cheap rents.
According to someone I know the canel will bring the independant shops I nearly hit her round the head with my pizza slice to get her to see sense.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
2:40pm Mon 28 Apr 08
emmylou83 wrote:She's been brainwashed by Roy Cartwright. ;0)
There is a need for different independent shops and resturants and cafes but Swindon need to entice them with a carrot i.e. cheap rents.According to someone I know the canel will bring the independant shops I nearly hit her round the head with my pizza slice to get her to see sense.
Seriously, The canal needs the shops more than the shops needing the canal.
mumoftwo, Swindon says...
2:42pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Spend the money making areas like around the Mechanics Institute look like something that we are proud of before wasting money on a canal.
emmylou83, Stratton says...
2:46pm Mon 28 Apr 08
DarkAuror wrote:I'm all in favour of new shops :o) Its like I said to her though I don't actually plan to be here when the canal does happen (although knowing my luck I will still be here)
emmylou83 wrote:She's been brainwashed by Roy Cartwright. ;0) Seriously, The canal needs the shops more than the shops needing the canal.There is a need for different independent shops and resturants and cafes but Swindon need to entice them with a carrot i.e. cheap rents.According to someone I know the canel will bring the independant shops I nearly hit her round the head with my pizza slice to get her to see sense.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
2:51pm Mon 28 Apr 08
mumoftwo wrote:The transport issues and the school access will be addressed in the Swindon Transport Plan whenever that will appear. This Plan needs to be approved and adopted before the Canal Plan can go ahead.
The canal route that is currently mooted along Westcott Place is crazy, has no one realised there is a school along there and the only access is Westcott Place. Also the roads around this area are gridlocked at rush hour and that is before the front garden is built on! Spend the money making areas like around the Mechanics Institute look like something that we are proud of before wasting money on a canal.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
2:57pm Mon 28 Apr 08
emmylou83 wrote:Well, if the canal does go ahead, I think Councillor Bluh has said by 2025. Most of the people who have said Yes will be too old to enjoy it.
DarkAuror wrote:I'm all in favour of new shops :o) Its like I said to her though I don't actually plan to be here when the canal does happen (although knowing my luck I will still be here)emmylou83 wrote:She's been brainwashed by Roy Cartwright. ;0) Seriously, The canal needs the shops more than the shops needing the canal.There is a need for different independent shops and resturants and cafes but Swindon need to entice them with a carrot i.e. cheap rents.According to someone I know the canel will bring the independant shops I nearly hit her round the head with my pizza slice to get her to see sense.
With the credit crunch, I think Swindon regeneration will grind to halt very soon. It's shame, I was waiting for the delights of the latest cheap tact shop if it appears, not! ;0)
emmylou83, Stratton says...
3:04pm Mon 28 Apr 08
It's shame, I was waiting for the delights of the latest cheap tact shop if it appears, not! ;0)
hey you get some great deals in the 99p shop you know!! :0)
steve-o, Swindon says...
3:12pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Bea, Swindon says...
3:25pm Mon 28 Apr 08
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
3:26pm Mon 28 Apr 08
steve-o wrote:I thought the canal was part of the regeneration vision.
Why dowe go off tothe canal gain item was about general regeneration, mechanics and all, knock that down and put up some white boarding
The council vision for the are down in publand to be developed in to an marina, with trendy winebars and cafes, and upmarket shops.
My initial post was the need of the developers and rental companies to encourage the independent shops to come to Swindon enticed by cheap rent.
steve-o, Swindon says...
3:33pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Bea wrote:Think you have Bea cos Dark Auror does let say it slowly we keep hearing about regeneration but all what hjappens is knock it down and put up white hoarding.
Has steve-o been hiiting the bottle? Couldn't make sense of his last post
Clear enough now
steve-o, Swindon says...
3:36pm Mon 28 Apr 08
DarkAuror wrote:I think one step at a time should be the case, there are too may empty spaces and shops already, the college and carfax is next to be flattened
steve-o wrote: Why dowe go off tothe canal gain item was about general regeneration, mechanics and all, knock that down and put up some white boardingI thought the canal was part of the regeneration vision. The council vision for the are down in publand to be developed in to an marina, with trendy winebars and cafes, and upmarket shops. My initial post was the need of the developers and rental companies to encourage the independent shops to come to Swindon enticed by cheap rent.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
4:02pm Mon 28 Apr 08
steve-o wrote:I agree one step at a time but there has only been one scheme approved and that's the Granville St car park redevelopment.
DarkAuror wrote:I think one step at a time should be the case, there are too may empty spaces and shops already, the college and carfax is next to be flattenedsteve-o wrote: Why dowe go off tothe canal gain item was about general regeneration, mechanics and all, knock that down and put up some white boardingI thought the canal was part of the regeneration vision. The council vision for the are down in publand to be developed in to an marina, with trendy winebars and cafes, and upmarket shops. My initial post was the need of the developers and rental companies to encourage the independent shops to come to Swindon enticed by cheap rent.
I understand the Council's reasons to knock down the buildings because they can't be zero rated but surely they could be rented out, oh! that's because they can't anyone to fill them!
Not sure about Carfax St Health Centre being knocked because they haven't secured premises yet.Well my wife hasn't been told yet and she is registered with the Whalebridge Practice that's based there.
steve-o, Swindon says...
4:12pm Mon 28 Apr 08
s.lovesey, Swindon says...
4:29pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Frontier(s) wrote:Great comment, whats that about !!!
I mean, seriously, who thought Swindon town centre would be improved by putting a giant TV screen right opposite McDonalds?!? If that doesn't just sum Swindon up perfectly, I don't know what does.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
4:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08
As for Reflex, it will be a waste of money with the canal as you'll need adequate space for tow paths unless and this is from Roy Cartwright the Trust spokeman, "the old victorian tatty buildings will redeveloped (knocked down) for the canal." So I assuming he's talking about the side where Fletchers, Wilkinsons and Holmes Music is.
Robin Harris, Swindon says...
4:35pm Mon 28 Apr 08
The latest Labour drivel again sorry, election leaflet promises to do many things they couldn't or didn't want to do before.
I'm not in favour of anyone party in particular but Labour were two faced before and more interested in what they could get out of it. Now we have a SMALL minded group trying to talk big as usual. Even Mark Dempsey couldn't give a valid reason to vote labour.
DarkAuror, Swindon says...
4:37pm Mon 28 Apr 08
I just remember Councillor Tomlinson's comment in his debate where he said that Labour's big idea for the vision for Swindon is more public toilets!
s.lovesey, Swindon says...
4:41pm Mon 28 Apr 08
DarkAuror wrote:That would stop all the Chavs watchin the big screen at Micky D's peeing in the street !!!
I don't think Mark Dempsey gave a reason. I just remember Councillor Tomlinson's comment in his debate where he said that Labour's big idea for the vision for Swindon is more public toilets!
Robin Harris, Swindon says...
5:05pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Grumpy old man, Swindon says...
5:44pm Mon 28 Apr 08
Frontier(s), says...
6:58pm Mon 28 Apr 08
God help us.
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WTF?, Swindon says...
8:50pm Sun 27 Apr 08
You'd have no say in it you wally, unless you're about to re-write government legislation.
No doubt this man is on the planning committee given that he knows nothing.