Let's bring Christmas magic to the roundabout (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Let's bring Christmas magic to the roundabout
8:00am Monday 24th November 2008 in News
The magic roundabout, where a Christmas tree has been proposed
FESTIVE plans could make the Magic Roundabout a little more magical this Yuletide.
Council leader Rod Bluh wants to put a 40-foot Christmas tree on Swindon’s most famous landmark in an effort to improve its image.
Coun Bluh said: “This is something that came out of a meeting with representatives of the local taxi drivers who said that the first thing visitors want to see when they come to Swindon is the Magic Roundabout.
“The idea of doing something with the Magic Roundabout came up a few years ago but all sorts of reasons were raised as to why it couldn’t be done and how it would distract drivers.
“But those reasons didn’t seem particularly convincing so I’ve now gone back and challenged them again.
“What we are now looking at is the size of the tree. It would have to be pretty big to make any kind of an impact.
“The figure of 40ft has been mentioned but I’m not even sure that they do Christmas trees that big.
“This is about showing the taxi drivers that we are listening to them and also about bringing a little cheer at this time of doom and gloom.”
Dan Lane, from V-Cars, said: “Whether we like it or not we are famous for the magic roundabout and a lot of visitors coming to the town do say to our drivers that they want to see it.
“The problem is that when they get there it’s a bit of an anti-climax.
“The suggestion was all about putting the magic back into the Magic Roundabout and making the most of a landmark that does sum Swindon up in people’s minds.
“Whether a Christmas Tree is the best idea I’m not sure because there is a safety element to consider.
“But something definitely needs to be done to it to bring it into the 21st century.”
Jan Leard, manager of the Swindon Tourist Information Centre said: “It’s an interesting proposal.
“I suppose it depends on how big it is and if it is actually possible.
“There’s no doubt that the Magic Roundabout is a popular landmark - we get lots of requests for memorabilia from tourists, visitors and residents.
“There are a lot of people who send them to their friends and family abroad because of that the Magic Roundabout has been all over the world.
“We sell T-shirts with ‘I survived the Magic Roundabout’ on the back, and we also have badges, key rings, fridge magnets and playing cards.”
Coun Bluh said: “I would like to hear suggestions from residents about what else we could do to promote this feature so please feel free to email me at rbluh@swindon.gov.uk or call my office on 01793 463076 or 463424.”
Comments(26)
glad i left
says...
9:47am Mon 24 Nov 08
Coun Bluh, do you really think that a christmas tree will brighten up this area of dense traffic? will it bring colour to the greyness of swindon?
bevd86
says...
10:03am Mon 24 Nov 08
Donkey
says...
10:25am Mon 24 Nov 08
How about putting a canal through it to join up with the bit along the back of Shrivenham Road ...just as preposterous, Mr Blue? Take our thousands of tourists on a canal barge to see the tree!
No, seriously, I like the idea, but are our beloved taxi drivers going to contribute towards the costs since their meters must tot up taking all these fares to see it?
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY! There,I'll be the first to say it!
PS. Will heir be a Santa's Grotto on the island?
Donkey
says...
10:27am Mon 24 Nov 08
ourtone
says...
10:34am Mon 24 Nov 08
PeeveD
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11:03am Mon 24 Nov 08
I've seen the way some of his drivers belt around the town so believe me the last thing they need is a distraction!
PaulD
says...
11:09am Mon 24 Nov 08
Fi-i-i-i-i-i-ve Go-o-o-o-o-o-old Ri-i-i-i-ings
Any other Swindon 'attractions' that can be crammed into that song?
malkym1
says...
11:28am Mon 24 Nov 08
PaulD wrote:well undoubtedly you'd be able to find a partridge at the Pear Tree Hotel in CHISELDON!
simple - turn them into.... Fi-i-i-i-i-i-ve Go-o-o-o-o-o-old Ri-i-i-i-ings Any other Swindon 'attractions' that can be crammed into that song?
Bobfm
says...
11:29am Mon 24 Nov 08
Now I know you are not going to believe this security: tree-ball
Ankh
says...
11:50am Mon 24 Nov 08
malkym1 wrote:Take a walk just down the road from the Magic Rounabout and I'm sure you'll find "Four calling birds" and probably "Six geezers laying".
PaulD wrote: simple - turn them into.... Fi-i-i-i-i-i-ve Go-o-o-o-o-o-old Ri-i-i-i-ings Any other Swindon 'attractions' that can be crammed into that song?well undoubtedly you'd be able to find a partridge at the Pear Tree Hotel in CHISELDON!
glad i left
says...
12:09pm Mon 24 Nov 08
Ankh wrote:surely if you are after calling birds they are in the broad street area on street corners.
malkym1 wrote:Take a walk just down the road from the Magic Rounabout and I'm sure you'll find "Four calling birds" and probably "Six geezers laying".PaulD wrote: simple - turn them into.... Fi-i-i-i-i-i-ve Go-o-o-o-o-o-old Ri-i-i-i-ings Any other Swindon 'attractions' that can be crammed into that song?well undoubtedly you'd be able to find a partridge at the Pear Tree Hotel in CHISELDON!
Captain Sensible
says...
12:30pm Mon 24 Nov 08
Always Grumpy
says...
12:40pm Mon 24 Nov 08
Captain Sensible wrote:If it was to scale then that would take up the whole of the magic Roundabout!
How about a forty foot statue of the Odious Snelgrove woman?
Imagine the site of that coming into Swindon - that could frighten small children to death and cause untold numbers of accidents from drivers having heart attacks.
malkym1
says...
12:47pm Mon 24 Nov 08
glad i left wrote:..and at least 8 maids will be a- milking the independent punters foolish enough to stray off the beaten track to Penhill etc.
Ankh wrote:surely if you are after calling birds they are in the broad street area on street corners.malkym1 wrote:Take a walk just down the road from the Magic Rounabout and I'm sure you'll find "Four calling birds" and probably "Six geezers laying".PaulD wrote: simple - turn them into.... Fi-i-i-i-i-i-ve Go-o-o-o-o-o-old Ri-i-i-i-ings Any other Swindon 'attractions' that can be crammed into that song?well undoubtedly you'd be able to find a partridge at the Pear Tree Hotel in CHISELDON!
glad i left
says...
1:37pm Mon 24 Nov 08
Captain T
says...
6:26pm Mon 24 Nov 08
On the second day of Xmas my council gave to me..two park and rides and a brand new central library
On thei third day of Xmas my council gave to me..grafitti in the mens, two park and rides and a brand new central library
On the fourth day of Xmas mt council gave to me..four drunken birds, grafitti in the mens, two park and rides and a brand new central library
On the fifth day of Xmas my council gave to me..five round-abouts, four drunken birds, grafitti in the mens, two park and rides and a brand new central library
On the sixth day of Xmas my council gave to me..six yobs a baying, five round-abouts, four drunken birds, grafitti in the mens, two park and rides and a brand new central library
I could go on...
malkym1
says...
6:31pm Mon 24 Nov 08
Captain T
says...
7:16pm Mon 24 Nov 08
On the eighth day of Xmas the council gave to me..8 chavs getting a milking, seven homes a swimming, six yobs a baying, five round-abouts, four drunken birds, grafitti in the mens, two park and rides and a brand
On the 9th day of Xmas New Swindon (Co.) gave to me..9 areas for enhancing, 8 chavs getting a milking, seven homes a swimming, six yobs a baying, five round-abouts, four drunken birds, grafitti in the mens, two park and rides and a brand new central library
I'll be honest, I've run out of ideas at this point. Any help on 10, 11 and 12 eternally grateful. I had something bad like '10 buses beeping' but that's rubbish.
LordBelacqua
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7:54pm Mon 24 Nov 08
TheBlackHand
says...
8:45pm Mon 24 Nov 08
still an oldcrone
says...
11:25pm Mon 24 Nov 08
LordBelacqua wrote:me too!
Actually, I quite like the idea.
Taffynut
says...
6:59am Tue 25 Nov 08
I drive through everyday and it is so grubby, a fountain would enlighten the M.R. God forbid that a statue of Snellgrove being put on the M.R. she would cause numerous accidents as she have no likeness to Christmas cheer, a tree would obscure the oncoming vehicles emerging and turning on the roundabout.
Another idea ...... why not as mentioned a flowerbed as it would brighten up the greyness in the summer months? I am for the fountain and flowerbed provided CCTV is monitored 24/7.
Geoff Reid
says...
10:39am Tue 25 Nov 08
I like the idea and I'll gladly chuck the first tenner into the collection hat for the tree.
Well done Councillor Bluh.
I don't buy the safety argument against putting a tree on the central doughnut....drivers should be entering and using all roundabouts at a low enough speed that all collisions are avoidable anyway.
jimmys lovechild
says...
11:35am Tue 25 Nov 08
still an oldcrone wrote:I like the idea too.But why don't we just put a big black gloomy cloud over it the same one that is over most of the people on this comment page. Ps: Thought the pear tree was in Purton
LordBelacqua wrote: Actually, I quite like the idea.me too!
LordBelacqua
says...
7:41pm Tue 25 Nov 08
TheBlackHand wrote:Ever heard of corporate sponsorship? In a time where companies need people to spend, it could be a particularly good solution - the bigger the funding, the bigger the bauble!
Great idea Mr Bluh why not put a merry-go-round as well,while were at it. I am sure all the Honda & BMW workers who will lose pay at Christmas will be encouraged to see you are spending their council tax to cheer them up.
House
says...
11:28am Fri 28 Nov 08
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