The leader of Swindon Borough Council has suggested more people should be living in the town centre.

Coun David Renard believes businesses would benefit from such a shift.

He was speaking to the Adver after data from the Centre for Cities organisation suggested footfall in the town centre had returned to 78 per cent of what it was before the Covid-19 crisis.

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Brian Baker: “We need a decent shopping centre to encourage people and footfall to come in and use it.

“The council killed off the town centre by letting these out-of-town shopping parks to spring up everywhere.

“Do away with parking in the town centre charges would be a start.”

Richard Howroyd: “There are lots of ideas out there but unfortunately the Tory administration are now 20 years behind the curve.

“Covid will just accelerate change and unfortunately further decay but may create an opportunity to buy up land and property to do something innovative.

“I would suggest building on the success of the Outlet and start with looking at the opportunities around the Railway Village and bottom end of town.”

Stephen Redford: “Utterly wrong. The town centre is not viable any longer.

“It should be bulldozed with new road layouts, a larger shopping mall and low-rent office district.”

Kimberley Miles: “We need a town centre upgrade with decent shops and facilities with cheaper parking to attract people to shop.

“Not add more people to live there, the shops are still the same. Get a reality check and grip.”

Elaine Taylor: “Rubbish. The less shops that we have, the less people are inclined to shop here.

“It should be a good mix of retail and dwellings.”

Pinky Lee: “No we don’t. Parking is already a nightmare for residents and nowhere near enough spaces for the street people live on.”

Mihai Tantau: “I tell you what Swindon needs. A university! And something attractive in the centre, not Poundland and another dozen pound shops.

“There was a for that and the council didn’t have to pay a single penny for it, but it didn’t work with your agenda you kicked out through the back door."

Bryan Sharkey: “Clean Swindon up first, place is rubbish.”

Dave Durston: “Past the point of no return now though.

“It’s a catch-22 situation now, need more people living there to shop but need more shops there for people to live there

“Council is about 10 years too late on this issue, unfortunately.”

Jill Cuss: “Where would the people living there shop. They would need food shops?

“Can’t see that would help the town centre.”

Katy Little: “There was a lot of people in town.

“What we need is less empty shops.”

Julie Heath: “We don’t need more people living in the town centre. We need more shops and an update.

“Our town is an embarrassment compared to Oxford, Bristol, etc.”

Sarah Maddock: “Living? No you need shops and entertainment within the centre.

“Go look at Bristol, Gloucester, Cheltenham, etc and you’ll see how Swindon is a disgrace in comparison.”

Charmaine Fisher: “No they don’t. This is why the town centre is dead and no one shops there, because it’s expensive and there will be no shops and it won’t be called to town centre.

“So stop building flats.”

Kiddle Ruth: “Need more good affordable shops to draw people to town centre, what’s the point of living there if you have to shop somewhere else?”

Carl Arrowsmith: “Swindon town centre is finished.”