Steve Allsopp, who is presenting the motion, pictured in Faringdon Road which is on the route of the proposed canal
THE first public attempt to drop anchor on the canal project will be mounted this week.
The Labour group will present a motion at full council to call for a halt on the £52m project, championed by the conservatives.
Labour say that the Adver's recent survey, which revealed that two thirds of Swindonians are opposed to the canal, raised a number of questions about the plans.
Supporters of the project have hit back, accusing Labour of getting their sums wrong and lacking ideas of their own.
Coun Steve Allsopp (Lab, Parks), will present the motion - seconded by Coun Des Moffatt - at Thursday's council meeting.
He said: "I have had reservations about the canal project since we started running with it as an idea.
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"There are a number of issues about which there are questions.
"The impact on the town centre, whether it will achieve its objectives, if we can deliver it within the cost envelope and whether it is the best use of money that will be spent on it.
"The Adver's survey has brought this to a head.
"More people with reservations about the scheme are surfacing all the time.
"Unless we test the council's water on this we are in danger of going forward with something people don't want.
"I have seen canals work in some places and I can understand the attractiveness of the concept.
"There's some sense of the canal as an exciting concept. I don't doubt that. Sometimes you let that run away with you. That is what has happened here."
Roy Cartwright, chairman of the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust, said that he was not surprised to hear about the motion, but was disappointed with Labour.
He said that a Labour leaflet pushed through his door by a candidate standing for election to Swindon council had made a number of claims about the costings for the canal which the trust disputes.
He said that the Labour candidate had either not read the canal feasibility study prepared by engineering company Halcrow or had misunderstood its findings.
Coun Phil Young (Con, Covingham and Nythe), cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and development, said that he understood people's concerns about the project but accused Labour of not having any ideas of their own.
He said: "It's understandable why they have put the motion forward. Labour have no aspiration, ambition or drive for the town centre.
"For that you need to think creatively and to have ambitions - the canal is a part of that.
"We accept that there are challenges that we have to address.
"What we are trying to understand is if this is an idea that will work for the town centre.
"We understand that there are questions which need to be answered and they will be."
Posted by: A Tax Payer, Peatmoor on 9:21pm Sun 20 Apr 08
I've no real emotion either way with this canal project, however i can fully understand Labour's reservations (funny they no longer refer themselves as new Labour), after all think about all those Labour voters who they could help with in the form of £50m worth of benefits.
I've no real emotion either way with this canal project, however i can fully understand Labour's reservations (funny they no longer refer themselves as new Labour), after all think about all those Labour voters who they could help with in the form of £50m worth of benefits.
Posted by: A Tax Payer, Peatmoor on 9:31pm Sun 20 Apr 08
Mind you a salutary lesson on being careful what you wish for. A few years ago i was traveling from Oxford to Banbury and upon entering the outskirts of Banbury by the Sainsbury's store for those of you who know that area, there is a footbridge. Across the railings of the footbridge there was a banner advertising "Banbury Canal week". A fine time to be had by all those who attended the various functions that were no doubt put on. On closer inspection of said banner someone had used a marker pen to erase the "c" on said banner. Work it out!
Mind you a salutary lesson on being careful what you wish for. A few years ago i was traveling from Oxford to Banbury and upon entering the outskirts of Banbury by the Sainsbury's store for those of you who know that area, there is a footbridge. Across the railings of the footbridge there was a banner advertising "Banbury Canal week". A fine time to be had by all those who attended the various functions that were no doubt put on. On closer inspection of said banner someone had used a marker pen to erase the "c" on said banner. Work it out!
Posted by: Captain T, Swindon on 11:21pm Sun 20 Apr 08
I would love to see this canal project go ahead. Yes it's ambitious and probably not like any other in the country but we need to give the town some sort of focal point.
But it does of course have to ensure that plans are in place to deal with traffic entering Swindon and ensuring the council tax payers do not end up subsidising it. If those conditions can be met, then go for it.
I would love to see this canal project go ahead. Yes it's ambitious and probably not like any other in the country but we need to give the town some sort of focal point.
But it does of course have to ensure that plans are in place to deal with traffic entering Swindon and ensuring the council tax payers do not end up subsidising it. If those conditions can be met, then go for it.
Having left Swindon some years ago, it really is quite striking when I return to see just how far behind other comparable towns and cities Swindon has fallen. Gone are the days of the 1980s when the 'fastest growing town in Europe' tag was spoken with pride. Swindon is becoming a backwater.
I find it surprising that there seem to be so many people in Swindon wanting to preserve this mediocrity. Yes - large projects such as this should be properly costed, especially when funded publicly. Yes - the plans should be rigorously scrutinised. But surely there also needs to be some recognition that Swindon is failing, that Swindon is ugly, that Swindon is losing out to other towns and cities in its region. Something needs to happen, or Swindon will continue in its downward spiral.
Swindon is never going to become another Bath (and neither would most of us want it to become so), but a regeneration along the lines of what has taken place in Reading during the last 10 years or so is surely possible and desirable. The centre of Reading is streets ahead of Swindon, so much so that a large number of shoppers from Swindon now travel there.
And funnily enough, when Reading's town centre was redeveloped in the late 1990s, a canal was included as an attractive waterside feature. It's still there - and it isn't full of trollies either. Reading and other places like it profit from Swindon's malaise. I hope that that changes soon.
Having left Swindon some years ago, it really is quite striking when I return to see just how far behind other comparable towns and cities Swindon has fallen. Gone are the days of the 1980s when the 'fastest growing town in Europe' tag was spoken with pride. Swindon is becoming a backwater.
I find it surprising that there seem to be so many people in Swindon wanting to preserve this mediocrity. Yes - large projects such as this should be properly costed, especially when funded publicly. Yes - the plans should be rigorously scrutinised. But surely there also needs to be some recognition that Swindon is failing, that Swindon is ugly, that Swindon is losing out to other towns and cities in its region. Something needs to happen, or Swindon will continue in its downward spiral.
Swindon is never going to become another Bath (and neither would most of us want it to become so), but a regeneration along the lines of what has taken place in Reading during the last 10 years or so is surely possible and desirable. The centre of Reading is streets ahead of Swindon, so much so that a large number of shoppers from Swindon now travel there.
And funnily enough, when Reading's town centre was redeveloped in the late 1990s, a canal was included as an attractive waterside feature. It's still there - and it isn't full of trollies either. Reading and other places like it profit from Swindon's malaise. I hope that that changes soon.
Labour were useless when they had control of the council. They are old representative of 'old Swindon' not' New Swindon'.
They were in charge for years and NOTHING ever happened to regenerate the town centre.
I am not a Tory but the Cons have actually managed to build us a new library after 30 years of promises. They are actually delivering change and meeting promises they made in their manifesto to Swindon.
I really hope this motion is thrown out. We all know the Adver poll was flawed and not something to rely on (if you were asked a one-line question during your shopping hour would you be appraised of all the facts, and if someone said it cost £52m wouldn't you just say 'no i don't want it'?).
[bold]PLEASE BUILD THE CANAL FOR THE SAKE OF SWINDON AND IT FUTURE[/bold]
Labour were useless when they had control of the council. They are old representative of 'old Swindon' not' New Swindon'.
They were in charge for years and NOTHING ever happened to regenerate the town centre.
I am not a Tory but the Cons have actually managed to build us a new library after 30 years of promises. They are actually delivering change and meeting promises they made in their manifesto to Swindon.
I really hope this motion is thrown out. We all know the Adver poll was flawed and not something to rely on (if you were asked a one-line question during your shopping hour would you be appraised of all the facts, and if someone said it cost £52m wouldn't you just say 'no i don't want it'?).
PLEASE BUILD THE CANAL FOR THE SAKE OF SWINDON AND IT FUTURE
Labour were useless when they had control of the council. They are old representative of 'old Swindon' not' New Swindon'.
They were in charge for years and NOTHING ever happened to regenerate the town centre.
I am not a Tory but the Cons have actually managed to build us a new library after 30 years of promises. They are actually delivering change and meeting promises they made in their manifesto to Swindon.
I really hope this motion is thrown out. We all know the Adver poll was flawed and not something to rely on (if you were asked a one-line question during your shopping hour would you be appraised of all the facts, and if someone said it cost £52m wouldn't you just say 'no i don't want it'?).
[bold]PLEASE BUILD THE CANAL FOR THE SAKE OF SWINDON AND ITS FUTURE[/bold]
Labour were useless when they had control of the council. They are old representative of 'old Swindon' not' New Swindon'.
They were in charge for years and NOTHING ever happened to regenerate the town centre.
I am not a Tory but the Cons have actually managed to build us a new library after 30 years of promises. They are actually delivering change and meeting promises they made in their manifesto to Swindon.
I really hope this motion is thrown out. We all know the Adver poll was flawed and not something to rely on (if you were asked a one-line question during your shopping hour would you be appraised of all the facts, and if someone said it cost £52m wouldn't you just say 'no i don't want it'?).
PLEASE BUILD THE CANAL FOR THE SAKE OF SWINDON AND ITS FUTURE
Harry (London) - thank god there is someone else out there with some common sense and vision. If only all the people like you didn't move away to London then maybe things would be different!
Harry (London) - thank god there is someone else out there with some common sense and vision. If only all the people like you didn't move away to London then maybe things would be different!
Can someone tell me how a canal will help Swindon?
I can see no positive's that outweigh the enormous expense of this project.
Instead of calling me negative why doesn't someone come up with a plausable argument 'for' the canal.
Can someone tell me how a canal will help Swindon?
I can see no positive's that outweigh the enormous expense of this project.
Instead of calling me negative why doesn't someone come up with a plausable argument 'for' the canal.
Labour's motion has nothing to do with the issue of a canal but a cover for their complete lack of their own ideas about how to improve this Town and the fact that they have nothing to fight the local elections with.
Labour's motion has nothing to do with the issue of a canal but a cover for their complete lack of their own ideas about how to improve this Town and the fact that they have nothing to fight the local elections with.
Posted by: Chav, North Swindon on 1:37pm Sun 4 May 08
Well I think the canal Idea certainly had an impact on Rod in the elections. I am pretty sure that could have been a factor in him not getting as many votes.
Yes its great to have a vision and Ideas of how to make a town unique and appealing to tourists etc. However a canal through town is a no no. I say this because although I am not an engineer, have SBC actually done their research and looked at the layout of the land?
We need water to survive, yet it can also be destructive and cause damage. Now forgive me if I am being thick here, but water follows the contours of the land. The slightest slope/deviation it will follow. Now yes, there used to be a canal in Swindon, but it wasnt through the centre of town, why?
You cannot fit a square peg into a round hole without problems.
Now remembering the floods last year due to the heavy rain, I ask myself, if the canal was in place then,just think of the damage it would do re: flooding the shops etc. Its not rocket science. Its common sense. During the floods, shops were getting flooded out through the heavy rainfall alone. Doesnt bear thinking about really does it.
Shops would suffer and insurance premiums would go through the roof.
So I would say to SBC have you thought beyond a pretty picture of a canal throught the centre of swindon????
Have you thought of what could go wrong? Worst case senarios etc?
Have you looked at the layout of the land?
Have you thought about the impact of possible flooding and the consequences ?
Have you consulted the shop owners, people etc.
Have you spoken to engineers and people who are in the know?
The Vision is nice, but the practicality behind it and the reality is another story.
Chav
Well I think the canal Idea certainly had an impact on Rod in the elections. I am pretty sure that could have been a factor in him not getting as many votes.
Yes its great to have a vision and Ideas of how to make a town unique and appealing to tourists etc. However a canal through town is a no no. I say this because although I am not an engineer, have SBC actually done their research and looked at the layout of the land?
We need water to survive, yet it can also be destructive and cause damage. Now forgive me if I am being thick here, but water follows the contours of the land. The slightest slope/deviation it will follow. Now yes, there used to be a canal in Swindon, but it wasnt through the centre of town, why?
You cannot fit a square peg into a round hole without problems.
Now remembering the floods last year due to the heavy rain, I ask myself, if the canal was in place then,just think of the damage it would do re: flooding the shops etc. Its not rocket science. Its common sense. During the floods, shops were getting flooded out through the heavy rainfall alone. Doesnt bear thinking about really does it.
Shops would suffer and insurance premiums would go through the roof.
So I would say to SBC have you thought beyond a pretty picture of a canal throught the centre of swindon????
Have you thought of what could go wrong? Worst case senarios etc?
Have you looked at the layout of the land?
Have you thought about the impact of possible flooding and the consequences ?
Have you consulted the shop owners, people etc.
Have you spoken to engineers and people who are in the know?
The Vision is nice, but the practicality behind it and the reality is another story.
Chav
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