Bid to see town in positive light (From Swindon Advertiser)
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New focus on town’s image as regeneration chief steps down
12:30am Wednesday 26th August 2009 in News
Peter James, who was head of the New Swindon Company
SWINDON’S “negative image” will be tackled by an overhaul of the way the town’s regeneration is managed.
The first step of a new direction for Swindon’s regeneration plans was taken yesterday when Peter James, chief executive of the New Swindon Company, announced he had stepped down.
The company, which is charged with revitalising the town centre, will now be reshaped to promote regeneration across the whole town.
The aim of the revamp is to tackle negative images of Swindon and focus on delivering regeneration promises.
Mr James was not available to comment on his reasons for stepping down after four years in the role.
Swindon Council leaders also remained tight-lipped on the exact circumstances of his departure, but praised his achievements.
The New Swindon Company is funded jointly by Swindon Council, the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) and the Government.
Steve Richards from SWRDA said: “Swindon has a problem with a negative image. We need to bring together the marketing of the town and the delivery of regeneration all under one roof. That is what’s behind the restructuring of the New Swindon Company.
“We are very satisfied with what Peter James has achieved and we wish him well.”
Mr James oversaw a £350m deal with Muse Developments on the Union Square scheme, which will see an area from Fleming Way to Swindon railway station rejuvenated. But a £215m retail-led scheme to develop the Granville Street car park area failed to see the light of day after developers Modus went into administration.
Swindon Council’s Labour leader Coun Derique Montaut said: “In the past four years we should have taken more action. We have got competition all around us from Bristol, Gloucester, and other places.
“We need to make sure we are marketing Swindon to potential employers as well as to people visiting the town.
“I don’t think that has been done as effectively as it could have been.”
Former Swindon Council lead member for property Coun Nick Martin also had doubts about the performance of the New Swindon Company, saying progress had been slow during Mr James’ tenure.
“Other towns and cities managed to get schemes off the ground before the recession but we didn’t,” he said.
“All we can do is work with the major retailers to see how we can best work with them to deliver regeneration.”
But council leader Rod Bluh said: “We have signed a major deal which is going ahead. We have delivered the Wharf Green scheme and work on Canal Walk has started.
“These deals do take a long time to put together and I honestly do not believe it could have gone quicker.
“Swindon has received a lot of positive coverage nationally because of the Muse scheme and I think the reputation of the town is growing.”
In a statement, Mr James said: “It has been a pleasure to be part of such an exciting period for Swindon and with major investment secured for the town centre I believe there is a bright future.
“There has been lots of discussion with partners about how we develop our approach to regeneration and it feels like the right time to step aside and let the next chapter of Swindon’s regeneration begin.”
Comments(31)
itsamess
says...
8:36am Wed 26 Aug 09
You are right in the point of Swindon is ideally located. Ask yourself why Swindon does not attract business or visitors--despite half empty trading estates-numerous office blocks and empty shops. Trading estates are not easily accessible due to our shambles of a road and transport system. There are few venues to attract visitors or major stores. Small wonder our own residents choose to travel to towns and cities close by to shop or visit major venues. We cant compete simply because all people hear of Swindon is it is the dumping ground for govt plans to force more housing on us--despite the fact that all the major projects in progress ar not completed. At the heart of all the problems are the interference from all the so called development agencies and partnerships that all have committees trying to tell our council and its committees what they must do. Can you imagine the cost of all these committees and the gravy train it creates? Consider that some councillors sitting on many of these committees were leaders of our council--deputy leaders--leaders of their political groups then degraded to plain councillors after some of the major disastrous financial mismanagement in this councils history. The proof is in this story--The New Swindon company-is funded by SBC--SWRDA--GOVT--th
ats 4 committees-members--
boards--a nice little earner for some. That just leaves a big hole in the finance and a council being held to ransom. Aided and abetted by its own councillors. So how can they listen to the people of swindon with all these millstones around their necks--how can swindons problems be overcome when there are too many companies and agencies all arguing amongst themselves. Council services farmed out to outside companies rather than recruiting local workers and skills simply shows the negative attitude of this council. What good is regenerating canal walk and a town centre with few shops of repute? It is long overdue for our councillors to listen to the people of Swindon from all walks of life who want a town to be proud of not the butt of everyones jokes.
kevin leakey
says...
8:43am Wed 26 Aug 09
Councillor Montaut, you are a card
“In the past four years we should have taken more action".
Why only the last 4 years?
Swindon should have been taking more action for at least the last 35 years - you know after the last attempt to regenerate the town centre ground to an unfinished halt.............
Dear oh dear - short memory, senior moment eh Councillor, old age kicking in??? !!!
komadori
says...
8:46am Wed 26 Aug 09
"We need to bring together the marketing of the town and the delivery of regeneration all under one roof."
just whose roof will that be?
swindonistani
says...
9:03am Wed 26 Aug 09
Ian13 wrote:Swindon is stuck between major poles of economic development in the South West: Reading and Bristol, and totally eclipsed by the 2 major cultural lighthouses of the West of England: Bath and Oxford.
Swindon does have a lot going for it but the pace does need to be quickened on development works or we will be left behind. Our location means you can get to all major cities within an hour or two so we are ideally situated to attract major companies. A more professional approach and less moaning from the professional whingers please.
I wouldn't say that Swindon is ideally located, to the contrary Swindon can never grow to full potential.
Oxford, Reading, Bath, Bristol all have succesfully managed to complete major developments (University, Shopping mall, TechnoParks etc...) and are now steaming ahead at full speed, whilst Swindon is lingering at the bottom of the league handicaped by a dying and decaying town centre, suffocated by its own intercity traffic and mushrooming housings, bloated with an incompetent development, planning teams & headed by a more incapable council leader.
Swindon is ideally located to disappear into oblivion, that I would most certainly agree.
Swindon has NOTHING!
Bobby Bee
says...
9:19am Wed 26 Aug 09
Not sure others would agree with that.
BUt we all need to focus on bringing Swindon up in the world, just as Gloucester was revamped and made more acceptable so we need this in our town.....urgently.
RF1
says...
9:34am Wed 26 Aug 09
BadProspects
says...
9:52am Wed 26 Aug 09
1. Restore what remains of the town's heritage - Mechanics, Locarno etc.
2. Make developments sensitive to the town - stop the 'slash and burn' policy of endless demolition and rebuilding
3. Preserve the good things rather than sully them - eg Coate
4. Encourage a bedrock of small local retail business rather than here today, gone tomorrow national retail chains
5. Instead of an irrelevent one-way ditch ('canal') - do something to mark and celebrate Swindon's railway heritage to draw outsiders here.
6. Resist each and every new attempt to expand the town unless and until the existing creaking infrastructure can be expanded to cope.
Swindon_AOK
says...
11:10am Wed 26 Aug 09
Seriously, what did Peter James achieve for Swindon, other than lining his pockets (and the economy of Marlborough, where he resided) with his six-figure tax-payer funded salary?
Peter James, in my personal experience, was an arrogant man who ultimately failed to deliver and has finally paid the price. I have said many times before that in other professions this man would have long fallen on his sword for all the broken promises and failures of this New Swindon Company. Now it would seem the powers that be have finally recognised the total failure of the NCS to achieve any physical regeneration in over 4 years of work.
The successes which are applauded are laughable in the grand scale of what needs to be done. The town centre has gone backwards whilst £3m of canal walk improvements and the 'flagship' Wharf Green will do nothing to solve the underlying problems we face.
The NSC ultimately did not complete due-dilligence on Modus Ventures after having taken over 2 years to select them to develop our new shopping centre. The end result is a disaster for Swindon and has set this town back anotehr 10 years, maybe fatally so in light of competition from Cabot Circus and the Oracle.
Peter leaves the NSC in disgrace in my opinion, and I expect it will be the end of the NSC in its current form.
What is worrying is that the need for a focus on the town centre remains paramount, and yet now we are talking about focusing on the whole town and the reputation of Swindon. A classic chicken-and-egg situation in my view.
With the town centre in its current state Swindon will remain a national laughing stock for the next decade and beyond.
itsamess
says...
1:32pm Wed 26 Aug 09
billie-boy
says...
2:02pm Wed 26 Aug 09
swindonistani
says...
2:26pm Wed 26 Aug 09
billie-boy wrote:Swindon is a positive example of how the Tories are going to run the country.
What can you say about Swindon that is positive.
It is positive to know in advance the mess we can avoid by not voting Tory next year!
itsamess
says...
3:22pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Come on now mate--it was a labour council that began the rot setting in--selling off the brunel--just to pay into pension funds for wilts c c employees--and then overlooking the equal pay acts which cost a further 50 mill--they also began the blanket double lining of swindons residential areas--the tories oversaw the decriminalised parking and raising parking charges--however they gave us our promised new library--but began closing the local libraries--sorry i cant find other good points. Sadly there is currently no realistic alternative right now.
swindonistani
says...
3:36pm Wed 26 Aug 09
itsamess wrote:This is a country of almost 70 million people. And despite being a "democracy", for the last 100 years, we have been switching from Tory to Labour constantly with the results we know (corruption, elitism etc)
swindonistani Come on now mate--it was a labour council that began the rot setting in--selling off the brunel--just to pay into pension funds for wilts c c employees--and then overlooking the equal pay acts which cost a further 50 mill--they also began the blanket double lining of swindons residential areas--the tories oversaw the decriminalised parking and raising parking charges--however they gave us our promised new library--but began closing the local libraries--sorry i cant find other good points. Sadly there is currently no realistic alternative right now.
The question is not that there isn't a realistic alternative.
The question is do we want Democracy? if so then we should vote for the parties that matches our beliefs, we have a parliement dominated by one party (this defy the essence of having a Parliement) I believe we should have many more parties voted in Parliement in order to force alliances, debates etc....
If we do not believe in Democracy, the we can still continue to vote between 2 parties (Plague or Cholera) and continue destroying our countries and freedoms.
If we want a vibrant democracy and debate we need to vote for any parties small or big, we should vote for ideas, programs not for the next Governement.
itsamess
says...
3:53pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Although i agree i cannot see it happening--all parties have been caught with their hands in the till and still there are big loopholes in the measures taken to prevent this again. I see no reason why we should support payments for mortgages or council tax--its a job and they are paid well and are guaranteed a healthy pension and golden handshake when they leave--yet they are the ones creating about the pensions and payments for the top executives.
swindonistani
says...
4:10pm Wed 26 Aug 09
itsamess wrote:Like many fellow citizens, you and me know that over the last century our voting habits have allowed the creation of a political elite living on our backs (expenses, golden pension etc....) because they know that whatever happens they will be back in power at the next elections
swindonistani Although i agree i cannot see it happening--all parties have been caught with their hands in the till and still there are big loopholes in the measures taken to prevent this again. I see no reason why we should support payments for mortgages or council tax--its a job and they are paid well and are guaranteed a healthy pension and golden handshake when they leave--yet they are the ones creating about the pensions and payments for the top executives.
This must stop!
I am not saying we should boycott the big parties, but there are a lot of very great ideas stemming from smaller parties, independant candidates. If somehow we can get new blood, fresh ideas into our political paysage I believe that we can start a long term change in the way we are being governed and make politicians more accountable to voters.
As you know it is always hard to break an habit, I am hopeful that at the next election many others will vote off the beaten track:-)
Robh
says...
4:28pm Wed 26 Aug 09
In a true democracy we would all have a say in everything but that is impractical in fact many people could care less over most descisions. So we opt for a degeration of democracy where we chose a person to represent a group. The trouble with party politics is that whilst that person is supposed to represent the group they also represent the party ie Anne Snelgrove, Michael Wills etc. They end up turning the tables and try telling the people what to do.
We have a New Swindon Company that has decided with other non elected groups what is best for Swindon. Most of what has been proposed so far has been purely to enhance their own images rather than the town so they can put it on their CV's as achievements.
swindonistani
says...
4:47pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Robh wrote:Few good points in your argument.
Party politics and democracy don't mix. It allows a minority to have control of the majority. In a true democracy we would all have a say in everything but that is impractical in fact many people could care less over most descisions. So we opt for a degeration of democracy where we chose a person to represent a group. The trouble with party politics is that whilst that person is supposed to represent the group they also represent the party ie Anne Snelgrove, Michael Wills etc. They end up turning the tables and try telling the people what to do. We have a New Swindon Company that has decided with other non elected groups what is best for Swindon. Most of what has been proposed so far has been purely to enhance their own images rather than the town so they can put it on their CV's as achievements.
However, I would like to say that since labour came to power they organise 4 Referendums! all of them to dismember the UK, call it devolution, they dropped the one on the EU and never started their referendum on the Euro.
However quite ironically, no referendums on the Iraq War, the Bank Bail out, the EU treaty etc..
This is not up to the Politicians to decide what and when to put to referendum (popular vote)
We need constitutional changes to set out the conditions of a popular refendum:
Military action
Constitutional change
National Sovereignty
Strategic Plan (transport, energy, military)
At the local level, there are many instances of referendums in the UK council, however none yet in Swindon! why?
Now, I truly accept that we need representation, however the crucial point missing is accountability and recall
In our democracy we lack the populus counterbalance, once an MP, councillor is voted in, there is no way to take him/her down unless waiting the next election
I suggest that we should be able to recall "bad" MPs, councillors after gathering enough signatures.
I also suggest that citizens could start a referendum process (National or local)on a specific subject should there be sufficent signatures
Also, and this is my last point we need both chambers to be fully elected (but not at the same time) in order to reflect the "mood" of the country over 5 years.
Several smaller parties have actually these ideas in their electoral program, so the spirit is there.....
Bobfm
says...
5:43pm Wed 26 Aug 09
On a more serious note you are of course right the British Electoral system is geared to the two party system, the Lib-Dems have tried and failed miserably because their 'sit on the fence' politics is seen for what it is their inability to come up with a coherent policy that appeals to the majority. Vince Cable is perhaps the exception to the rule. His grasp of economics is lost in a party that believes the EU is right for Britain.
I stand to be corrected but he has never openly discussed the EU.
Cameron has done what Cameron does, a 'Tony Blair'. He dare not upset Ken Clarke the 'Chief Whip' of the Euro Zone, Ken's the man that holds the purse strings. But call me 'Dave' knows that 60% of Brits want out of the EU. So he promises with fingers crossed a vote on the Reform Treaty, hoping the Irish vote NO (which most Brits hope also), which lets him off the hook.
Is there really any choice to save Britain from oblivion. I think not. The only vote that will achieve that is a vote for UKIP.
itsamess
says...
6:09pm Wed 26 Aug 09
I Too
says...
6:48pm Wed 26 Aug 09
We seem to have gone off the topic slightly.
The topic being the joyous occasion of saying goodbye to mr James.
I had the great "pleasure" of attending a conference hosted by mr James, whereby he outlined his grand schemes.
At one point he stated "does Swindon need another hotel? - yes", answering his own question.
At the end of the speech, I asked him why there were no areas in the great plan to include the residents of Swindon.
When Mr James asked, confusedly, what I meant, I replied "the residents DO NOT need another hotel, we have houses, we do not need another food outlet, we have kitchens, etc."
I suggested that the people that have lived here for a number of years, might like to see the restoration, of some of the towns' current features, included in the scheme of things, after all, if the former police station has been CPO'd, why not do the same with the Mechanics' etc?
Needless to say, it degenerated into a big version of "call my bluff"
Goodbye Mr James, if you ever need somewhere to stop for the night, call on someone else.
Now to my present ward councillor,
Swindon Council’s Labour leader Coun Derique Montaut said:
`
“We need to make sure we are marketing Swindon to potential employers as well as to people visiting the town. "
`
I must ask you the same question, as I asked Peter James.
When will the regeneration include the people that live here?
`
An empire is crushed from within.
When the long term Swindon residents start to appreciate what is happening, heritage renovation, a cultural / entertainment venue, protection of the areas that WE care about, then the people that live here will "sell" the towns' merits for you. No need for spin, or blank statements.
itsamess
says...
7:08pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Does that mean you are voting for UKIP ?
Sorry--you are right in what you say--oh and i think we all know what your local councillor will say "oh dont be so stupid why should we involve the people they only pay council tax--oh and general tax the govt give us--oh and of course all that lovely money from parking fines and parking bays"
bilzinusa
says...
7:29pm Wed 26 Aug 09
erniebond
says...
9:14pm Wed 26 Aug 09
itsamess wrote:Could not have put it better myself. Swindon did not need regeneration when it was thriving. Anyone remember Square D, Vickers, GWR, Metal box. Deloro Stelite, Plesseys, Garrads,EMI. etc etc. How on earth can anyone expect to regenerate Swindon when all we have is Offices, Wine Bars and Night Clubs. The stuffing was been knocked out of Swindon many years ago and it will take many years to get it back. I was born and bred in Swindon and was proud of it but sadly it has gone down hill with the Council wasting money on broken clocks, water features and seeking the advice from Consultants. It is about time our Councillors, as mentioned before, started listening to the people in the wards they represent. It appears that they are being dictated to by outside bodies who get fat saleries from us the people of Swindon. Swindon has nothing to offer in the way of entertainment. The Wyvern was revamped at a cost of thousands when really we needed a bigger theatre. The tin hut they call the Oasis is just a joke. We have without a doubt gone backwards in time. We had the Locarno,Mc Ilroys, ABC cinema, Gaumont, Classic, Palace, Palladium and not forgetting The Mechanics. Yes the Good Old Days but it was better then than it is now.
Ian 13 You are right in the point of Swindon is ideally located. Ask yourself why Swindon does not attract business or visitors--despite half empty trading estates-numerous office blocks and empty shops. Trading estates are not easily accessible due to our shambles of a road and transport system. There are few venues to attract visitors or major stores. Small wonder our own residents choose to travel to towns and cities close by to shop or visit major venues. We cant compete simply because all people hear of Swindon is it is the dumping ground for govt plans to force more housing on us--despite the fact that all the major projects in progress ar not completed. At the heart of all the problems are the interference from all the so called development agencies and partnerships that all have committees trying to tell our council and its committees what they must do. Can you imagine the cost of all these committees and the gravy train it creates? Consider that some councillors sitting on many of these committees were leaders of our council--deputy leaders--leaders of their political groups then degraded to plain councillors after some of the major disastrous financial mismanagement in this councils history. The proof is in this story--The New Swindon company-is funded by SBC--SWRDA--GOVT--th ats 4 committees-members-- boards--a nice little earner for some. That just leaves a big hole in the finance and a council being held to ransom. Aided and abetted by its own councillors. So how can they listen to the people of swindon with all these millstones around their necks--how can swindons problems be overcome when there are too many companies and agencies all arguing amongst themselves. Council services farmed out to outside companies rather than recruiting local workers and skills simply shows the negative attitude of this council. What good is regenerating canal walk and a town centre with few shops of repute? It is long overdue for our councillors to listen to the people of Swindon from all walks of life who want a town to be proud of not the butt of everyones jokes.
itsamess
says...
9:28pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Yes successive councils have dragged swindon backwards blinded by outside influences. When you think of what we had--and a friendly place with no serious crime problems--now its a town of doom and gloom.
Swindon_AOK
says...
10:30pm Wed 26 Aug 09
Jock Strap
says...
1:12am Thu 27 Aug 09
Long time passing!
Where have all, the people gone
Long time ago!
Where have the market traders gone
Gone bust most of them everyone!
Where has Peter James gone????
No one cares - no not one!
All they care is Peter James has gone!
Now Dinosaur Montaut's another one
Surely now it's Derique's turn
Look how he fiddled while Gorse Hill burned!
Where have all the councillors gone?
Gone to Wharf Green every one!
When will they ever learn!
Where have all the prople gone?
Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham every one
Where have all the people gone?
Away from Swindon every one!
Kineasy
says...
11:34am Thu 27 Aug 09
Home Boy
says...
11:51am Thu 27 Aug 09
_
So basically we're talking shops then? Great!
What about those of us who don't like to spend our entire weekend maxing out our credit cards? Bring some sports facilities, music venues, better restaurants, cafes, etc. into the town. How about allowing local interest groups to use town centre facilities for greatly reduced cost (Mechanic’s Institute anyone?). Anything you can do to attract people from all different backgrounds into the town is surely a positive. Why should the town be the sole reserve of shoppers and vertical drinkers?
I Too
says...
6:36pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Jock Strap wrote:Mr Strap.
Where Have all, the shops gone Long time passing! Where have all, the people gone Long time ago! Where have the market traders gone Gone bust most of them everyone! Where has Peter James gone???? No one cares - no not one! All they care is Peter James has gone! Now Dinosaur Montaut's another one Surely now it's Derique's turn Look how he fiddled while Gorse Hill burned! Where have all the councillors gone? Gone to Wharf Green every one! When will they ever learn! Where have all the prople gone? Bath, Bristol, Cheltenham every one Where have all the people gone? Away from Swindon every one!
I hereby put all our previous confrontations to one side.
That was beautiful.
Pure, cutting edge, poetry at it's best
Bobby Bee
says...
9:39pm Thu 27 Aug 09
Well done!
Ian13 says...
6:24am Wed 26 Aug 09
Our location means you can get to all major cities within an hour or two so we are ideally situated to attract major companies.
A more professional approach and less moaning from the professional whingers please.