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Mechanics' Institute's future debated
3:28pm Thursday 3rd July 2008
A GOVERNMENT planner heard heated debate over whether plans for the Mechanics' Institute would allow enough access for Swindon people.
Linda Wride, of the Planning Inspectorate, chaired the meeting at the Pilgrim Centre, in Regents Circus.
Representatives from the council's planning and conservation departments, Swindon Civic Trust, the New Mechanics' Preservation Trust and residents voiced their concerns about the Railway Village conservation area.
The council backs plans to see the Mechanics' Institute converted into a hotel and flats but wants to keep public access.
The New Mechanics' Trust wants the historic building to be entirely run by the community for the community.
Martha Parry, from the trust, said: "We are concerned about the definition of public access, in that by converting the Mechanics into a hotel it could be considered accessible to any member of the public willing to pay to use the hotel."
Council conservation officer Liz Smith said there should be some access by members of the public.
But she said: "That may not be wholesale access. We would not consider flats accessible to the public. But I think that conversion into a hotel would, or could, be considered."
Railway Village resident Brian Cockbill said: "The best use will very often be the use for which the building was originally designed.
"Reinstating that use should certainly be the first option."
Council planning officer David Dewart said a Railway Village Improvement Trust was in the process of being set up to gauge opinion from council tenants living in the area.
Linda Wride said she would consider whether the Health Hydro and Milton Road Baths should be included into the application to make the area a World Heritage Site.
"The Great Western Heath Centre and baths were part of the inspiration for the National Health Service," she said.
"The application for World Heritage Site status should take that into consideration. And the council has no objections."
It will be several months before the planning inspectorate decides on the framework for planning applications.
It will then be down to owner Mathew Singh to enter plans that meet the requirements for the site.
Your Say YourSwindon
Frontier(s), says...
3:43pm Thu 3 Jul 08
"The Great Western Heath Centre and baths were part of the inspiration for the National Health Service," she said.
"The application for World Heritage Site status should take that into consideration."
I fail to see how that has got anything whatsoever to do with the Mechanics Institute.
In fact, Linda Wride's comments seem dangerously unimpartial.
angry monkey, Swindon says...
4:35pm Thu 3 Jul 08
They dont own the building, nor do they have the funds to restore it for community use. Neither does SBC
The outcome? Nothing happens
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
9:29am Fri 4 Jul 08
In fact, Linda Wride's comments seem dangerously unimpartial.
How many world heritage site applicants that you know of have been turned into flats and hotels?
It's not unimpartial at all, it's making note of all the factors rather than just waving through the application.
And considering that normally you heap scorn upon them for waving things through with no regard for public opinion, surely this means they're doing something right?
Home Boy, says...
10:28am Fri 4 Jul 08
What public access are they keeping? It's been surrounded by a 10 foot security fence for the last few years! Although, I did see a group of kids, who had gained access, being removed by the police last week. Surely there's been enough debating and it's pretty clear that whatever the building is eventually used for must be financially viable. A hotel sounds like a great idea. Maybe build in a cafe, hotel bar and restaurant and you've got about as much public access as you could realistically hope to achieve.
Frontier(s), says...
10:47am Fri 4 Jul 08
LordBelacqua wrote:You've missed the point.
In fact, Linda Wride's comments seem dangerously unimpartial.How many world heritage site applicants that you know of have been turned into flats and hotels? It's not unimpartial at all, it's making note of all the factors rather than just waving through the application. And considering that normally you heap scorn upon them for waving things through with no regard for public opinion, surely this means they're doing something right?
She's connecting the Mechanics with the origins of the NHS - something she obviously feels needs 'sacred' status.
This will be pushed through with no regard for public opinion, they'll just take many months to do it. Got to keep people in jobs you know, makes the unemployment figures look 'acceptable'.
LordBelacqua, Swindon says...
10:54am Fri 4 Jul 08
She's connecting the Mechanics with the origins of the NHS - something she obviously feels needs 'sacred' status.
The building that sparked one of the biggest social care changes in Britain doesn't deserve 'sacred' status?
Frontier(s), says...
1:10pm Fri 4 Jul 08
eminencegris, swindon says...
1:20pm Fri 4 Jul 08
Waiting until a suitable public access opportunity presents itself before we find a use for Swindon's most significant building is ludicrous. The thing just can't wait that long. The best possible outcome is that Mr Singh can come up with something that isn't as hideous as his previous plan, and that then at least some people can enjoy using the building before it crumbles into a heap, while we all stand around wringing our hands at having done nothing to stop it.
Brian V Cockbil, Swindon says...
8:26am Sun 6 Jul 08
an-examination" page http://www.swindon.g
ov.uk/centralareaact
ionplan-examination which will give links to the CAAP Inquiry procedures, all written submissions and the Councils responses. Unfortunately, in my opinion, no independent notes of the actual Hearings are made. So, the only way of learning about the actual exchanges in the debate can come from those present. Some of the Objectors and maybe the Council Officers may be prepared to tell interested persons about the discussions, but in fairness these can only be from their particular perspective.
The Inspector has said on a number of occasions that she will apply equal weight to the written and spoken arguments made.
The final Session of the Inquiry is on Tuesday morning 8 July at the Pilgrim Centre starting at 9.30am and again the public are welcome to attend.
I hope this may help interested readers.
Brian V Cockbill
Brian V Cockbil, Swindon says...
1:52pm Sun 6 Jul 08
1 I am NOT a Railway Village resident and nor was I described as such at any time during the Inquiry. If the reporter had taken the trouble and looked at the attendance record she would have seen I live in Stratton St Margaret.
2 The quote "The best use will very often be the use for which the building was originally designed.
"Reinstating that use should certainly be the first option." attributed to me was in fact the part I read out from the government Planning Policy Guidance PPG15 Section 2.10.
3 I question the reports quotes attributed to the Inspector - Linda Wride said she would consider whether the Health Hydro and Milton Road Baths should be included into the application to make the area a World Heritage Site.
"The Great Western Heath (sic) Centre and baths were part of the inspiration for the National Health Service," she said.
"The application for World Heritage Site status should take that into consideration. And the council has no objections."
She did agree to consider if the Health Hydro and Milton Road Baths should be included into the Railway Heritage Area of the Swindon Central Area Action Plan.
World Heritage Status is not a decision within powers of the Inspector or even Government. World Heritage Status is conferred by UNESCO.
4 The Inspector, I believe, did at one stage make reference to "The Great Western Heath (sic) Centre and baths were part of the inspiration for the National Health Service", this was used in the context to confirm one of the reasons why it was being argued that the former Health Centre and Baths should be part of the Plans of the Railway Heritage Area.
5 I understood both Council officers, Liz Smith and David Dewart re-stated the Councils tabled Suggested Change. Hence the last quotation, would read more accurately The Councils representatives said "The Inspector may wish to consider recommending the inclusion of the Milton Road Health Hydro within the Heritage Area boundary as shown on the Proposal Map given its functional connection to the village. And the council has no objections."
Since the integrity, independence and impartiality of the Inspector has already been questioned on this comment page arising from the article, I will be asking the Program Manager to draw her attention to this matter.
Brian V Cockbill
Rhys, london says...
9:11pm Mon 7 Jul 08
No, they do not. However, there are vast amounts of public funds earmarked for such projects. SBC have never even put themselves out to investigate this angle simply claiming it 'financially unviable' whilst haemorrhaging money elsewhere in the budget. Surely as a town we can earmark the relatively small financial investment necessary to properly assess the community-use route?
Other more progressive cities in the country run such sustainable arts and community centres. Why do we not appear to want this enough? Are we not yet sick and tired of accepting uninspiring and ill-conceived commercial solutions to EVERY problem (read opportunity) that presents itself? We won't move forward as a town until we are.
Your sayYourSwindon
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theyellowcanoe, Swindon says...
3:43pm Thu 3 Jul 08