Your Swindon
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'SWINDON NEWS' to 80360 or email »
|
|
|
|
|
|
Got a story? EMAIL US, call us on 01793 501806 or text us at 80360, starting your message
with 'SWINDON NEWS'
Vandals target the mechanics'
9:25am Saturday 28th June 2008
Comments (34)
VANDALS have been tearing apart a historic Swindon landmark.
Lead thieves have been breaking into the site of the dilapidated Mechanics' Institute in Emlyn Square.
In the latest incident two men climbed the scaffolding to take lead from the southern roof of the crumbling listed building on June 14.
When police were called to the scene two other men were found trespassing at the Victorian Railway Village landmark.
Swindon police also believe metal thieves were at work on the site on June 10 after a van loaded up with lead was seen leaving the area.
Mathew Singh, who owns the Mechanics' Institute, confirmed lead had been stolen from the building, but said keeping vandals out was nearly impossible.
"I don't think a lot of lead is missing, but how can you stop it?" he said.
"People have got onto the runway at Heathrow and inside the Houses of Parliament, so if someone wants to get into the Mechanics' then they will no matter what security we have.
"Even when we had a 24-hour security guard three years ago we still had kids who got in and sprayed graffiti. We caught them, but that's not the point.
"It is an empty building, so of course it is going to be targeted.
"If anything, the trespassing and vandalism shows that something needs to be done with the building."
Town centre beat manager Sgt Chris Parsons said the disused building was the perfect site for a hot bed of crime.
"It is a disused building that seems to be targeted a lot," said Sgt Parsons.
"It is a prime example of the kind of places people try to get metal from roofs.
"The Mechanics' is an old building with some valuable materials, and while it is not being used people will sadly be inclined to commit crimes there.
"It has been proving pretty hard to keep people out of the site and there is a danger to their own safety in that too."
In March a teenage girl had to be lifted off the roof of the Mechanics' by firemen after breaking into the site.
New Mechanics' Trust co-ordinator and Railway Village resident Martha Parry said: "The Mechanics' site is insecure and an invitation to disaster.
"This has been going on for months and there has been no change at all.
"We need to stop it before irreparable damage is done to this piece of our heritage."
Last February a group calling themselves the Urban Explorers snuck into the dilapidated building at night, climbed to the highest point to look around, then published photos on a website.
Swindon police said trespass was not a criminal offence but advised people to stay out to avoid being trapped in the building.
Your Say YourSwindon Advertiser
paul_swindon, says...
10:16am Sat 28 Jun 08
The Mechanics is not owned by SBC - it is private building. SBC don't have any money to restore such a building if it did own it.
What greed then are you referring to?
The demolished site are there to make way for regeneration which is never fast and will happen. So just try and be positive for once instead of pointless attacks and jibes all the time.
Mick out West, West Swindon says...
11:09am Sat 28 Jun 08
WTF?, Swindon says...
11:17am Sat 28 Jun 08
No building work has started, some six to eight months after the planning application was agreed.
Martha Parry's comments about the Mechanics are very hyporcritical. It's her little 'charity' that has ensured the building has remained empty, unused and derelict. As the saying goes Ms Parry, 'be careful what you wish for'.
WTF?, Swindon says...
12:15pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Has to be better than watching it rot and costing us a fortune everytime the police are called out to arrest thieves (but then let them off with a warning).
And as for wasting yet more money 'rescuing' the morons that trespass in the place - forget it, they're there when the shouldn't be so let them fall off the roof or trip over and break their ankles. Good riddance.
Harry Potter, Swindon says...
1:37pm Sat 28 Jun 08
who dat?, says...
1:43pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Therefore, also the perfect site to catch the b*ggers - so WHERE IS PLOD????????
Err,down the nick filling in forms for the Robber McBoon!!!
Jeez, what a joke this country has become and all paid for by us!!
WTF?, Swindon says...
1:44pm Sat 28 Jun 08
Andy Newell, Swindon says...
2:29pm Sat 28 Jun 08
It was sold for £1 by British Rail I believe.
Dick-Turpin, Swindon says...
4:03pm Sat 28 Jun 08
I Too Could Be a Councillor, Swindon says...
4:13pm Sat 28 Jun 08
I wish they would just let Mr Singh get on and do something with HIS property.
If I attempted to erect a 60ft pole, outside the front of my house, wit a windsock on it, I would not be granted planning permission.
My house isn't a listed building, but The Mechanics' is.
Why should mr Singh be treated any different to anybody else?
Because he makes threats?
Because he stops work on the roof, when his plans were to be called in by ODPM?
because he cancels security on a building which he is obliged to maintain.
because he wants to make an even bigger eyesore on a heritage site?
Planning consent applies to every resident of every town. All the Mechanics' Preservation Trust have done is see that he abides by the same rules (despite certain councillors, and people with a vested interest, trying to "fast track" the process).
They also have planning consent for their designs, and uses for the building which just goes to prove that plans can be accepted if you're not greedy, and give two hoots about for town's heritage.
Frontier(s), says...
4:29pm Sat 28 Jun 08
'The town's heritage' is now a home for thieves, druggies and vandals - you honestly think that's preferable to Mr Singh's plans for it?!?
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
7:19pm Sat 28 Jun 08
As for Swindon Borough Council, whether they have ever owned this property is not really the point. The point is that this beautiful listed building in our town has been allowed to decay and rot for many, many years. This lets our town down, which is partly the responsibility of SBC. I am not blaming them entirely, just saying that they could of done more, much more. A lot of people are at fault here.
One word that springs to mind is responsibility and taking it! We try to teach our children this along with looking after things and then they see this building! We are letting them down.
As for Martha Parry, at least she hasn't just sat on her arse blaminig others. She had the courage to follow through with what she believed was right and has worked hard for many years campaigning to save this building, along with the other members of the New Mechanics. They are doing what they believe in.
logical, Swindon says...
11:17pm Sat 28 Jun 08
I'm sure swindon needs 1) a civic centre,
2) A good tourist centre
3) community centre
4) it would have been an idea location for a library!!!
still the council seem reluctant to do anything about it.
Should we be surprised???
Dick-Turpin, Swindon says...
10:07am Sun 29 Jun 08
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
10:34am Sun 29 Jun 08
Frontier(s), says...
12:04pm Sun 29 Jun 08
Mumstheword wrote:A challenge to turn up to one meeting in every three you mean?
lol Dick, a challenge it would be for sure!
Yeah, big hardship.
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
2:52pm Sun 29 Jun 08
Mine was on the phone to me earlier, desperately trying to resolve pc probs so she could get on with her work. She works most nights till eleven and weekends as well. Admittedly all of them do not work this hard, but the decent ones do.
Frontier(s), says...
3:35pm Sun 29 Jun 08
I've seen councillors that do put in a lot of effort, but then I've also seen councillors that do very little other than polish their own egos.
Like anything else, there are good and bad - and some are lazier than others.
The you get the ones like Barrie Thompson who sit around on Spanish beaches doing nothing at all!
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
3:44pm Sun 29 Jun 08
WTF?, Swindon says...
8:43pm Sun 29 Jun 08
Andy Newell wrote:Nope, you're wrong.
SBC have never, ever owned the building, so get your facts right before slating them Mr Sensible. It was sold for £1 by British Rail I believe.
SBC did own it for a short while.
It's slowly being restored as best as possible in places where it can be, places that won't need to be changed once a planning application is granted.
You have to appreciate that a listed building of this category cannot simply put safestyle windows in, everything has to be original and approved.
This is not just my opinion it's fact MumsTheWord, is that okay?
Brian V Cockbil, Swindon says...
9:04pm Sun 29 Jun 08
I support the view that the Mechanics building should be brought back into use for the benefit of Swindon and the public at large. I believe that Swindon Borough Council and its predecessor Thamesdown Borough Council and their officers have been wilfully negligent in failing to use their statutory powers to require its owners past and present to maintain it in a fit state.
Unlike some of your contributors I do not wish to hide behind a pseudonym. Those who use abusive language against others just because they disagree should be ignored, Such postings do no credit to those peoples views and devalue the Swindon Advertisers site.
For those with a genuine interest in the future of the Mechanics Institute building they may like to know the matter is programmed to be discussed at Session 4 of Examination in Public Inquiry of the Councils Central Area Action at the Pilgrims Centre on Wednesday morning 2 July commencing at 9.30am. Members of the public are welcome to attend.
Brian V Cockbill
WTF?, Swindon says...
9:28pm Sun 29 Jun 08
Brian V Cockbil: I believe that Swindon Borough Council and its predecessor Thamesdown Borough Council and their officers have been wilfully negligent in failing to use their statutory powers to require its owners past and present to maintain it in a fit state.
I was quite interested to read your comments until I read the above sentence.
Research your thought on this and come back and make a comment that means something.
It winds me up that people are quick to blame SBC for the demise of the Mechanics. It has NOTHING to do with SBC.
They infact have supported it as much as they possibly can when necessary.
You will note that listed buildings are NOT controlled in their regeneration by councils.
This has NOTHING to do with our council.
FACT!
I worked closely with the mechanics in various ways for five years and it's actually ill informed people like you who have contributed enormously to the fact it's still not open to the public.
I will be happy if Mr Singh were to turn it into private residence (it's even almost big enough for MumsTheWord and her endless children) so people like you will never get the opportunity to see inside this stunning building.
Never judge a book by its cover. The outside may well be grim but the inside it wonderful.
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
9:42pm Sun 29 Jun 08
WTF are you a buddy of Mr Singhs? Is that why you dislike me???? We agree on something, the Mechanics is a beautiful building. Hmm... WTF is Matthew Singh (accusation, not fact or opinion!)
WTF?, Swindon says...
8:06am Mon 30 Jun 08
I prefer to protect those around me.
And no, I am NOT Mr Singh otherwise I would not have said:
I worked closely with the mechanics in various ways for five years
I would have said something like:
'...since owning the Mechanics.'
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
8:37am Mon 30 Jun 08
Brian thank you for that info, I shall be there. My name is Beckie Wolf, I don't hide :)
Do let me know how that goes Beckie - I'd like to turn up myself, but work will unfortunately call me away. :(
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
10:38am Mon 30 Jun 08
WTF, you are giving me the creeps in all honesty. You seem to follow me around the comments and have even admitted to posting comments in order to wind me up. Now you have come out with my maiden name, that I have not used for the past five years. Who are you and why are you doing this?
WTF?, Swindon says...
10:47am Mon 30 Jun 08
I am not stalking you, we were at school together.
But now you can see how easy it is for people to work out who you are.
So to prove a point - It's not about hiding, it's about being sensible.
You may remember me telling Tony Hillier it was a daft idea to have his home address on his website.
By giving out your name to the world wide web and by doing your blog you're opening yourself up to God knows what. You're too open - remember the WHOLE world can read this.
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
10:55am Mon 30 Jun 08
What exactly do you think I risk by being open? It's only when people decide to hide behind names and spook me out, like you did, that I have a prob!
WTF?, Swindon says...
10:56am Mon 30 Jun 08
I only realised we were at school together recently when you said something on here, which I can't remember.
Now let that be it because I do not make a habit of apologising or being sincere!
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
11:02am Mon 30 Jun 08
Frontier(s), says...
11:27am Mon 30 Jun 08
It is not good practice, or even common sense, to publish personally identifying information on a publically accessible website.
People who choose to use usernames are not 'hiding', they are simply being sensible.
You do realise that it's very, very simple for somebody that knows your full name and location to obtain your birth date details and then effectively pass themselves off as you, don't you?
Personally, I'd be even more careful with such things given that you have also made several mentions of your children's names.
It's simply not a good idea.
Mumstheword, Walcot says...
11:33am Mon 30 Jun 08
Andy Newell, Swindon says...
11:01pm Mon 30 Jun 08
SBC did own it for a short while.
When?
In this section
- 'When the abuse began, my dad became this monster'
- New look for Marlowe Avenue unveiled
- BB gun pair face prison
- Athletes on mission to fire up youngsters
- Residents delighted with drives and bays
- Factory friendship led to lasting love
- Musical mowing helps out leaves
- School sends out flu text bombshell
- Jenny Pitman pledges support to the Samaritans
- Pupils make film about leaving primary school
Sponsored Links
Local Advertisers
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Captain Sensible, Near Swindon says...
9:31am Sat 28 Jun 08