'It isn't the place for 118-bed hotel' (From Swindon Advertiser)
Get involved! Send photos, video, news & views. Text SWINDON NEWS to 80360 or email us
Email us your story, call 01793 501806 or text 80360, starting your message with 'SWINDON
NEWS'
'It isn't the place for 118-bed hotel'
11:00am Monday 31st August 2009 in
TOWN centre residents have hit out at plans to build a 118-bedroom hotel near Swindon Railway Station.
The neighbours fear the proposed Hilton “Hampton” Hotel, which could replace the former central laundry on Aylesbury Street, would increase problems with prostitutes in the area.
Residents are also worried about parking at the site and the possibility of the six-storey building being used as a bail hostel if the hotel fails.
Karen Leakey, of Broadgreen Community Council, said: “This is a residents’ area not commercial. People don’t want to see another hotel.
“People are concerned about the effect on the residents of people coming and going at all hours of the day.
“Some businessmen visit prostitutes in that area and we are worried about the effect of having more businessmen staying in a hotel there.
“This could undo all the good work the police have done.”
Mrs Leakey said she was also worried about what could happen to the building if the hotel failed. She said: “We don’t want to see a bail hostel put in its place if the hotel isn’t a success.”
Transport could also be a problem, according to Mrs Leakey. She said: “Where are people going to park? This is a 118-bedroom hotel with 14 car parking spaces for guests.
“We are also concerned that because of the layout if anyone arrives by bus they will be stepping out straight into the road. It doesn’t seem to have been thought through.”
Derek Sutton, a Salisbury Street resident, said: “There are already too many hotels in the town,” he said.
“What we need is accommodation, not hotels. Any development in that area would have to be in keeping with what is already there. Most of the applications that come in for that area seem to be an astronomical height.”
An application for the hotel has been submitted to Swindon Council and is due to be determined by Sunday, September 20.
A previous application for a block of 66 apartments at the same site was also opposed by local people concerned the building was too tall and that neighbours would be overlooked.
Hilton spokesman Jules Kerby said: “It is too early for us to make a comment on anything surrounding this potential site.”
Comments(19)
Bobfm
says...
11:28am Mon 31 Aug 09
What I would say is that ll the evidence from tourism and business surveys is that the South West and Swindon in particular will not recover for a long time. Council officials are even admitting privately that the much vaunted regeneration and housing development is 20+ years away. Much of it may never happen given Labour have saddled the UK with a 2.2 trillion public debt which is rising all the time.
If the local hotels were honest they would admit they are struggling with 50 to 65% occupancy levels. I know of one local hotel which has 21 rooms, and is struggling to fill half a dozen and they are very competitively priced.
Of course this is good for the consumer in the short to medium term, no one denies that, but Swindon's problem 10 years ago, when I decided to build my motel was, according, to the Tourist Information centre was affordable mid-range priced rooms.
If another big hotel is built there will be almost 1000 rooms in the town centre alone, they will do cut price deals, put the smaller operators out of business and when an up turn does arrive rooms will be at a premium again.
I Too
says...
12:16pm Mon 31 Aug 09
"I know, let's keep everything just as it is "
Yes. Let's keep building, for the sake of it, as we have done for decades, regardless of how grim the town becomes. Let's totally ignore all concerns, from the people that actually live here, as we have done for decades.
Indeed let's keep it all the same.
itsamess
says...
12:18pm Mon 31 Aug 09
Raef Barnes
says...
12:20pm Mon 31 Aug 09
Captain Sensible
says...
12:51pm Mon 31 Aug 09
Briz_Eddie
says...
5:02pm Mon 31 Aug 09
Briz_Eddie
says...
5:02pm Mon 31 Aug 09
itsamess
says...
5:22pm Mon 31 Aug 09
You dont know Hotels then--they will use their staff from other hotels and supplies from central stores and use the loopholes in the law to use cheap immigrant labour by giving them living quarters--and business in Swindon is at an all time low. There are better ways to utilise the site to improve the area which is a traffic trap.
Briz_Eddie
says...
5:31pm Mon 31 Aug 09
itsamess wrote:I disagree - any investment in the area should be welcomed.
Briz_Eddie
You dont know Hotels then--they will use their staff from other hotels and supplies from central stores and use the loopholes in the law to use cheap immigrant labour by giving them living quarters--and business in Swindon is at an all time low. There are better ways to utilise the site to improve the area which is a traffic trap.
Business is at a low today agreed, but given that it would take 12 months to construct (that's after the council have procrastinated on the decision for goodness knows how long). I would speculate that the construction jobs it creates to build it would be most welcome. We (Swindon) will then be better placed when the economy picks up with more good quality central hotels.
I don't see a whole raft of other potential investors queuing up, do you?
itsamess
says...
6:29pm Mon 31 Aug 09
Outside companies tend to get all these contracts and have their own subcontractors. Same with all the housing being built--or not being built. The simple fact is no-one wants to come to Swindon to invest as the record of our Council is atrocious--labour promised regeneration and abused the money gained from the Brunel sale--the tories do it in a different way they employ a host of regeneration companies that go broke or can only build more hotels--when most hotels are half empty. My friend--i dont have the answers--but something that would benefit the community would be nice.
Briz_Eddie
says...
6:58pm Mon 31 Aug 09
itsamess wrote:I'm not sure that *all* sub-contractors would be from the outside area. In my experience of living in north swindon a lot of the sub-contractors are local firms or firms that use local labour.
Briz_Eddie
Outside companies tend to get all these contracts and have their own subcontractors. Same with all the housing being built--or not being built. The simple fact is no-one wants to come to Swindon to invest as the record of our Council is atrocious--labour promised regeneration and abused the money gained from the Brunel sale--the tories do it in a different way they employ a host of regeneration companies that go broke or can only build more hotels--when most hotels are half empty. My friend--i dont have the answers--but something that would benefit the community would be nice.
I would agree about something to benefit the community, but I really can't see that happening.
Bobfm
says...
8:07pm Mon 31 Aug 09
itsamess
says...
8:26pm Mon 31 Aug 09
I Too
says...
11:14pm Mon 31 Aug 09
I thought my eyesight was failing, but it seems okay on other wesites
Captain Sensible
says...
7:31am Tue 1 Sep 09
PaulD
says...
9:07am Tue 1 Sep 09
I Too wrote:hold down CTRL and then move the scroll wheel on your mouse
Is anyone else getting a font reduction? Squinty-vision?
I thought my eyesight was failing, but it seems okay on other wesites
I Too
says...
4:51pm Tue 1 Sep 09
PaulD wrote:That's better.
I Too wrote: Is anyone else getting a font reduction? Squinty-vision? I thought my eyesight was failing, but it seems okay on other wesiteshold down CTRL and then move the scroll wheel on your mouse
Thankyou kind sir.
Home Boy
says...
9:03am Wed 2 Sep 09
More News stories
- Regent Street evacuated due to gas leak
- Fire at Penhill Royal British Legion Club
- Thamesdown services running as normal
- Swindon schools remain open
- Cycle club has fears for future
- Coffee connoisseur set to steam ahead
- Secret document made public
- Rising to the challenge of supporting Women’s Aid
- Debt councillors expecting their busiest day of the year
- Chance to share your love with the town
Karen Leakey, John Freegard, Pam Freegard, Derek Sutton, John Phillips and Kevin Leakey on the site of the proposed 118-bed hotel
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Lars says...
11:15am Mon 31 Aug 09
"...would increase problems with prostitutes in the area" On what evidence do you base this? None!
"This is a residents’ area not commercial. People don’t want to see another hotel." It's right by the flipping train station and in the centre of town! Obviously there is demand for another hotel otherwise Hilton wouldn't want to build one.
"Where are people going to park?" In a car park underneath the hotel, presumably. Else they'll catch the train, hence the proximity to the station.
I know, let's keep everything just as it is with that boarded up laundrette, that's what would be best for Swindon.
Hurrah!