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Failure is no surprise

Just in case we have missed the point Rod Hebden director of the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery Trust is suffering a quadruple bout of ‘being gutted’ – a horrible phrase which is a modern if lazy way of saying “I’m very disappointed”.

For many Swindonians it comes as no surprise to me that for a second time Swindon has failed to convince the Heritage Lottery Fund to support the project, although I am surprised that the HLF appear unwilling to articulate their reason for rejecting the bid for £12m.

In previous correspondence I have challenged the claim that a new facility will bring economic advantage to Swindon, particularly as real events demonstrate that many provincial museums are suffering grievously from local council ‘cuts’ leading to reduced opening hours, a greater need for volunteers and increased subsidies.

Robert Hiscox has sought to invoke ‘The Bilbao effect’ to support his contention that the SMAG will be the best investment the council has even made, and others have suggested a new museum will “kick start the regeneration of part of the town centre”. He also claimed “the difference between where we are now and where we were when the last bid was turned down is momentum”. Clearly the HLF were not too impressed with either the momentum or the content of the bid.

Rod Hebden might well believe the current museum is “not fit for purpose” but many residents will disagree and consider his view to be typical of someone determined to find a reason to build a shiny new temple to the arts.

Des Morgan, Caraway Drive, Swindon

No long-term solution

I’m not sure how Steve Halden’s economic profile of the country’s housing works, but his view is simplistic. Building council houses is not an affordable option for local authorities, nor is it desirable.

The problem isn’t the price of housing, it’s the demand for housing in the south/south east of the country. Look at the demographic; a redistribution of businesses around the Midlands and north would attract a workforce in those areas and diminish the demand in the south.

There is far too much emphasis on the M4 corridor and south of it and particularly around London. Trying to reduce prices based purely on supply and demand doesn’t look at the underlying problems which need to be addressed primarily.

Addressing issues such as better infrastructure, attracting corporations to deprived areas, offering improved apprenticeships (as opposed to university), will make people reconsider their options. It’s still possible to buy houses at less than half the prices of the Reading/Swindon area by relocating north. Subsiding housing is fine as a short term solution for those in dire need but we shouldn’t be encouraging young people to aim for this as a permanent solution. The country can’t afford such an option and it doesn’t solve the long term issue.

John Dennis, NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED