Wharf Green wins environmental award (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Wharf Green wins environmental award
10:41am Friday 20th March 2009 in News
A SWINDON square has been commended for providing a boost to the town centre.
Wharf Green was recognised at the Civic Trust Awards 2009 ceremony at Arsenal’s Emirates Statdium on Wednesday night when Griff Rhys Jones presented awards to successful companies.
The awards attracted more than 400 entrants, and the winners were projects that are recognised as culturally, socially or economically beneficial, and make an outstanding contribution to the quality and appearance of the environment.
Bernie Foulkes, of LDA Design, said: “We are delighted that Wharf Green won a commendation in the Civic Trust Awards.
“The square has given a real boost to the town centre and its ambitious long-term plans for regeneration.
“I have no doubt Swindon will be winning many more awards and I’m happy that we are a part of the excellent work taking place.”
Peter James, the chief executive of The New Swindon Company, said: “It’s wonderful to see all the hard work earning recognition.
“We have great plans for the town and are beginning to see these realised and the difference they are making to Swindon.”
Comments(15)
ListenToReason
says...
11:10am Fri 20 Mar 09
scotslass
says...
11:16am Fri 20 Mar 09
SockPuppet
says...
11:30am Fri 20 Mar 09
Billy-o
says...
12:47pm Fri 20 Mar 09
Buster
says...
1:41pm Fri 20 Mar 09
The area is still surrounded by a grotty car park, only that car cark stinks of urine because of the state of the toilets, the flower beds are full of weeds or litter and access to the area is surrounded by boarded up shops and th clsoed market. It's hardly surprising that every evening it plays host to a crowd of shouting chavs.
The vast majority of people pass through this area, they don't stop, because it's not a nice area to stop and relax in.
If this is what we can expect from the next phases of regeneration, then I think we all need to be worried about the future state of Swindon.
Perhaps the council should launch a poll of the people of Swindon and ask them which part of town the consider to be most improved, and value for money, then we'll see if this award is due.
Al Smith
says...
2:04pm Fri 20 Mar 09
The actual WINNERS were
* Clarence and Brewhouse, Royal William Yard
* Clavell Tower, Kimmeridge
Adver, you really need to pull your socks-up! What next STFC win a match by getting a 1-1 draw?
Billy-o
says...
2:37pm Fri 20 Mar 09
Wharf Green was not a private sector job. The Civic Trust are not a private sector organisation. As an aside, I don't know of any business that is not profit motivated, or at the very least doesn't need a cash input higher than it's spend.
I'd be interested (and I'm sure the Council would be too) in the data that backs up your broad generalisations about what people want and how they might have delivered it differently. I certainly recall opportunities for that to occur before Wharf Green started. I think if you are worried about the future, you should direct your concerns to the people, organisations and bodies concerned. If you think that this is a waste of time, then try to find something more productive than wingeing here.
It's easy to criticise without offering solutions. Much harder to be critical and productive and useful. You clearly have the energy and the motivation - put it to better use.
Buster
says...
3:12pm Fri 20 Mar 09
The development of wharf green was done by private companies and this is the case for the proposed regeneration of the town. You only have to look at the pathetic attempts at consultation (and yes I have taken part in these) to recognise that many decisions have already been taken, but they have to be seen to listen to what people want. The real drivers are nothing to do with the people who will live with the results, they're about shareholder return on rents, what big businesses want, footfall for the shops and return on investment for the developers.
The fact is that wharf green is a disappointment, it is shabby and going down hill. I hope the developers, architects and countless other 'consultants' that will have raked in a fortune on this will be as proud of themselves in 5-10 years when the area needs another 'regerenation' because they didn't get it right this time.
Billy-o
says...
3:38pm Fri 20 Mar 09
Sweeping generalisations seem to be a major part of the comments I see every day on this site. You're a pot calling the kettle black.
Of course the development was done by private companies, but it was funded by public monies.
The idea in consultation is to consult on something - if no decision had been made on anything, how on earth would you consult on it? The idea of consultation is to test those decisions and reassess them in the light of the consultation. It might be pathetic, but I dare say that they're legal.
As I said earlier, companies need to make a profit. Of course private companies and the like want to make profits. This includes businesses in Swindon who survive or die on the basis of investment made. Doesn't it?? What do you want - a public whip round and we do it ourselves?
You're very naive. How is the GCSE geography course going?
Buster
says...
4:47pm Fri 20 Mar 09
And you accuse me of being a pot calling the kettle black!?!
It's perfectly clear from the patronising tone of your posts that you're some sort of stooge positioned solely for the purposes of furthering your masters' views and objectives.
The fact is that you can consult on ideas, not on decisions. By definition the latter is a farce, though this fact is clearly lost of you. If you got out of you're clearly posting on here on behalf of some organisation or another, probably the same bunch of self congratulating people that offers awards to the team behind wharf green.
Sadly for you, anything you ever have to say on this matter is totally undermined by your comment that those who post on here are morons. You clearly have no taste for discussion or the views of others.
Good luck with your move out of Swindon, somehow I doubt you'll be missed.
Billy-o
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5:26pm Fri 20 Mar 09
MrAngry
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7:57pm Fri 20 Mar 09
I've got nothing against Wharf Green, but wouldn't call it an environmental project.
Captain Sensible
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4:17am Sun 22 Mar 09
Jock Strap
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1:56pm Tue 24 Mar 09
Billy-o wrote:Billy-O whatever your protestations Buster & Cap'n are right Wharf Green is a Sierra Hotel Indigo Tango Hole! Amen!
Gosh, rumbled. Sheesh. Back to dusting my prizes for my master, then.
Buster says...
10:55am Fri 20 Mar 09
Did they have any comments to make on the contribution that the hoodies and chavs are making to the cultural and social make up of the area?, or the winos sleeping on the benches? or even the abundance of McDonalds wrappers floating around?
This isn't an award for Swindon, it's no more than some self congratulating business men patting themselves on the back for turning in a profit for their bosses and shareholders. They clearly hope that we're gullible enough to think that if they give themselves an award, it must be good.
All this does is undermine awards for genuine good work.