WE asked readers what they would most like to see happen in Swindon this year - and their answers didn’t disappoint.

There were those hoping for better times and a busier centre, some hoped to see fewer knife crimes and more community spirit.

And then there were those whose suggestions were just a little left of field...

Kandice Le Roux: “For the town centre to be buzzing and busy like it was in the early 2000’s. But that will never happen.

“Close it and make another retail park in Swindon.”

Danielle Shepard: “A decent family swimming pool (not dissimilar to The Oasis) open up and decent renovation of the splash park and play park at Coate Water.

"Less knives and machetes, less potholes and more folk being kind to each other.”

Em Newman: “Restoration of period buildings. Better roads. Facelift of queens drive and older lower income estates. More trees, and giving a whole make over to the town centre.

“Also a new recreation centre for youth. Another hospital. Small list for The council.”

Tim Howe: “A sense of community. People coming together, helping one another, walking, running, cycling together.

“Keep it simple first then the rest will come. It’s worked with all my local neighbourhood. Great bunch if neighbours and also great community spirit.”

Maureen O’Donnell: “People driving slower, I don’t come to Swindon very often if you don’t know the way with all the changes its scary enough without people cutting you up.”

Neil Stevens: “More Aldis, barbers, vape shops, McDonald’s for starters.”

Adham Conway: “Getting rid of the Tories from Swindon and Westminster. They have deliberately ruined the country.”

Richard Clark: “For the town to be saved. For that we need some decent new employers to be encouraged to come to the town (converting all the office blocks into flats doesn’t help), for us to have a town centre like Cwmbran has, the Oasis to be restored complete with the sports hall, a second hospital to cope with Swindon’s huge population, our Half Marathon to return, Speedway to return, Broome Manor Golf Course to be left alone, and the constant roadworks to come to an end.

“Basically I want Swindon to remain a town and not the world’s largest housing estate.”

Domnic Fernandes: “A new big hospital.”

Milena Bianca: “A decent family swimming pool, no stabbings, more shops in town centre, restore Mechanics Institution, more stop and searches for gangs of kids to avoid knife crime.”

Kate South: “Alien invasion would spice it up.”

Dominic Cross: “Drag it out the way to improve the view from Marlborough.”

Joseph Blake: “Add another mini roundabout to the magic roundabout to make it more magic.”

Robert Evans: “I’d love to see the oasis reopen as a health spa.”

Guy Andrews: “More coffee shops, Wilkinson’s, Poundlands and new builds.”

Neil Stevens: “STFC promoted.”