Need council's support

I read with interest the various letters regarding the re-development of the County Ground.

I was born and brought up in Swindon and first visited the County Ground as a five year old and used to sit on my dad's shoulders in the Town End. Since then forty nine years have passed by and the number of home games I've missed could probably be counted on one hand.

I've been to many away grounds and it's interesting to see the difference between councils up and down the country and in Swindon.

Other towns and cities seem to want to help their club and make something of the football club for the community. I did happen to notice that a couple of councillors were happy to stand on the front of the bus and wave to the adoring crowd as the bus took the team on their tour of Swindon after promotion to the Premier League.

Still football has only been played at the County Ground for the best part of 100 years, so why not do what they do with anything else that the people of Swindon could be proud of? Pull it down or let it rot, eg The Baptist Tabernacle, The Mechanics Institute, The Empire etc. I suppose the old railway museum will be next.

B ARCHER Grange Park Swindon

Club puts town on map

AS I am sure that you're aware, the matter I am discussing is the County Ground affair, which as we all understand it has been put in black and white by the club's shareholders is paramount for the club's survival.

What I do find interesting, is however is the regeneration of the town, which is needed, and the 50 pledges scheme is showing ambition. However, I would like to point out that no matter how big a shopping centre, how big a library the town will have. One thing is guaranteed to raise the town's image, and that will be a successful thriving football team, representing the town of Swindon, playing in a first class stadium.

I would like to point to the fact that I am in fact a STFC supporter since I was four, who was brought up in Northampton, and moved to Derby for university. One of the reasons for me to move to Swindon and contribute to the community of Swindon is to be closer to my football team.

The point here is that the club is responsible to attracting people to the town of Swindon, I know that my circumstance is a minor one, but I do know people who have done the same.

Please do not be ignorant to the benefits of a new stadium, and please do not give the club that many people love, bad press. The football club plays a huge part of so many peoples' lives, many of who actually live in Swindon. How can anyone give an opinion when the final plans haven't even been drawn up, and proposals haven't been prepared?

The council need and want to grow the reputation of Swindon. However, it seems from where I am standing that the council are quite willing to see a major tool for doing this to crash and burn.

What a shame.

N BOWLES Rodbourne Swindon

How to redevelop site

SO here we have it, two of the three sports clubs occupying the County Ground site have said that they would consider moving from their present location to new sites, provided the facilities were equal to or superior to their current arrangements.

I find this extremely interesting for the future of the County Ground site. Perhaps the council will look into finding a suitable replacement site(s) for the athletics and cricket clubs.

I imagine that the cost of rehousing these two clubs in more modern facilities (especially if they were on the same site) would be relatively small.

Two thirds of the County Ground occupants are willing to move, the other party desperately wants to stay but can't unless redevelopment takes place. The council members are either blind to the fact that with a little investment for new facilities for two-thirds of the parties, the whole area is then open to be redeveloped, which can include a new stadium, new housing/retail and open spaces, or they just don't care.

They will make their money back on their investment for the CC & AC from the rent from the club anyway.

They will also have done some good for the town (for once!) by providing a state of the art events arena in the town.

S FRIEND Toothill Swindon

What about Shaw Tip?

I AGREE with the sentiments of Steve Morgan January 21 "We should all work together."

To achieve a harmonious society the requirements of all community groups and individuals must be carefully considered.

It follows that Swindon Council as a controlling authority has a duty to ensure that the diverse needs of all citizens are catered for wherever possible.

In certain areas the council has responded well to these requirements.

However, when it comes to the town's football supporters and sportsmen the council has failed to meet expectations.

I believe it would be wrong for the council to develop County Ground since this area provides open space for residents living in a congested area. I also believe that it would be wrong for the council to build a new stadium on greenfield land since this goes against the principle of sustainable development and would be detrimental to the town's wildlife and landscape.

In my opinion the only alternative is to build the stadium on brownfield land and the most obvious location is the formally proposed and rejected Shaw Tip site.

At Shaw Tip the council has attempted to turn a brownfield into a greenfield country park. Recently Mr Ed Stanford, landscape and countryside manager said that Shaw Tip has an amphitheatre where various events including concerts and firework displays could be held. Swindon Council already uses the Polo Ground, Lydiard House, Town Gardens and other sites for such events.

(Mr) K KANE Wroughton Swindon

It is a prized asset

BEING a Swindonian and taxpayer I would like to have my say on the ongoing football ground saga.

This town needs to maintain and develop the only professional football club in this area. Swindon Town Football Club is a prized asset and to lose it does not bear thinking about. Why? Well not least because the club itself is over 100 years old has an illustrious history and the fact is that this town can ill afford to lose another piece of the town's heritage.

I would like to give an example of how the football club is an integral part of the community and the effect it can have. Forget the euphoria surrounding Wembley finals or promotion successes or just staving off of relegation for that matter, one of my most poignant moment was of nothing that happened on a football pitch.

It was in 1990 and the football club had just been told they were being demoted two divisions for financial irregularities. A march had been organised to protest, starting off in Faringdon Road Park. I remember walking alongside two senior ladies both had walking sticks and were struggling to keep up. One had not seen a football match in forty odd years, the other had never been to a game. Why were they there?

Well someone had taken a swipe at the football club and therefore the town and had the audacity to try to deprive the club of its promotion prize, they were having none of it.

The point is that sport and particularly football has a galvanising effect on people, it can promote a sense of belonging, of community and promotes pride in where you belong. I want more for this town than being classed as the fastest growing this or that or being described as a magnet for big business.

S MOFFATT Swindon

Tories split over stadium

AM I alone when I find myself completely confused by the stance of the Conservative councillors regarding the proposed County Ground development?

Coun Nick Martin made complete sense when he stated there was no money to support the proposal and that it would be illegal to provide the land in the manner required by the club. Yet I understand some Conservative councillors are still trying to find ways to take away the only open space in the area.

So much for the commitment given in the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy for Central to improve the local green environment.

This Conservative council split is not fair on the club or the residents.

A survey carried out in the County Ground area made it clear that the residents do not want to lose their open space but generally support a new stadium on the same footprint. The club have to be admired for wanting to improve the stadium but not at the cost of the residents' covenant protected space.

There is a deep mistrust of a council that is split and do not support the residents. If the council has an alternative site for affordable housing that can be leased by the club then support them instead of keeping the residents in the dark.

B WRIGHT Southbrook Street, Swindon