New regeneration strategy is backed (From Swindon Advertiser)
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New regeneration strategy is backed
8:20am Friday 12th March 2010 in
SWINDON’S regeneration plans could be back on track after councillors backed a new economic strategy.
The borough-wide delivery plans under the subsidiary company Forward Swindon Limited (FSL) will oversee marketing, economic development, inward investment and cultural development in the town.
The plan will see the transfer of undertakings mainly from the New Swindon Company to FSL coming into effect from Thursday, April 1.
During a Cabinet committee meeting at the Civic Offices, councillors agreed this was the best course of action.
Coun Phil Young, the cabinet member for culture, regeneration and economic development, said: “This has been a long time coming, but I feel Forward Swindon Limited will deliver a better economic strategy.
“This will be able to give us more of a borough-wide focus rather than just the town centre.
“We’ve really had to flex our muscles and grit our teeth over this. I’m hopeful this will empower the council and deliver the regeneration we need in Swindon.”
Some of the key objectives are to drive forward the development of Union Square and to deliver improved town centre shops offered by developing Granville Street car park.
One of the five-year schemes is aimed at ensuring the new bus station is completed and operational.
FSL’s aims on cultural development are to maximise the opportunity for existing activities in order to improve Swindon’s image and develop an aspirational cultural quarter in the town centre.
Rod Bluh, leader of Swindon Council, said: “This is an immense piece of work over a long period of time and this issue is a top priority.
“It frustrates me that the regeneration should have happened 10 years ago before the recession, but we are where we are now.
“It will mean more focus on the regeneration than ever before and we have to get behind it and support it.”
The agreement will be on a rolling annual five-year business plan, with mid-year review and progress reports.
Comments(12)
politicrat
says...
9:30am Fri 12 Mar 10
What more do we need to get rid of those incompetents?
Submit the regeneration plan to local referendum or Elections NOW!
Swindon_AOK
says...
10:52am Fri 12 Mar 10
The only thing that might delay this is a public consultation so that the people of Swindon can decide on the new logo.
trustnopolitician
says...
1:34pm Fri 12 Mar 10
They seem to want to be in the limeilght all the time when it would be much better to ensure things get done rather than talk about them.
There is no need for a revamped shopping centre with facilities at West Swindon, North Swindon & Greenbridge -
Its needs a tidy up but Swindon is never going to compete with Bristol , Bath Cheltenhan etc .
for example I want to see a car park charge which enable me to park for half an hour without being ripped off. What Swindon Town Centre isn't and won't ever be is a place to go for a day out unlike the other venues mentioned above.
So why not concentrate on being the council that looks after its citizens the best rather than the Council which promises much delivers little and has an ego that needs to be popped.
Mr Blackwell
says...
1:46pm Fri 12 Mar 10
.
A little over two weeks til their official launch and there's only a cheap holding page online.
.
Still, no doubt the soon-to-come website will be worth the wait. I'd love to know how much they've overpaid one of their mates for it...
real -life
says...
2:35pm Fri 12 Mar 10
You only have to look at the SBC website so know how bad it going to be, its about as user friendly as a pit bull terrier on heat!
Just dont hold your breath, just another waste of our money. Put these people on performance related pay and bonuses so they only get paid if they deliver and get nothing if the dont (hey lets do that for Crapita and Swindon Services too, that would soon put them out of business). We need more accountablility not less with all these private sector companies. SBC is responsible for Swindon, no one else, so they and only they should be doing the work so we can call them to account when they fail. If any of the contractors fail they just walk away and go somewhere else, that is no way to run a town!
Captain Sensible
says...
2:55pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Nostim
says...
3:50pm Fri 12 Mar 10
perhaps this lump of metal is the remains of a ship that Mr Bluh has found and is going to put it in his canal
I Too
says...
6:06pm Fri 12 Mar 10
Captain Sensible
says...
7:41pm Fri 12 Mar 10
itsamess
says...
8:00pm Fri 12 Mar 10
mrsdoubtfire
says...
8:07pm Fri 12 Mar 10
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Mr Blackwell says...
9:13am Fri 12 Mar 10
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It's the same thing and the same people but with a new name.
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These are the people that have cost us around £8m yet have achieved absoutely nothing.
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I'd imagine their main focus will be on coming up with another name to rebrand themselves with in another five or six years time when nothing's been done.