Retail Demolition Therapy & The New-New Swindon Company

Either the remaining part of the old Bhs store, or the scaffolding around it, collapsed earlier today, giving a bit of drama to Tuesday morning shoppers.

It's a cruel irony that with regeneration being one of the biggest local election issues, buildings in our town centre need no help in falling down.

Swindon Centric Says ; The new and improved New Swindon Company is made with even more public money but hasn't lost any of that original flavour you love!

Twice The News, Half The Story, None Of The Redevelopment

There seems to be some (more than usual) confusion emerging about a town centre developer going into administration this weekend.

As Swindon Centric reported Thursday, Swindon Borough Council officially announced that the Regent Place plan was dead, due to "Modus Ventures' financial difficulties" (read financial difficulties as, in administration) on Tuesday. This was despite Modus being reported as in administration on 29th of May by the BBC.

Swindon Centric Says ; So, there isn't ANOTHER developer going bust, it's still Modus. Meanwhile, we're still waiting for our town centre.

Musing On The Mode Of Town Centre's Stagnation

Swindon Borough Council have now officially announced that the Regent Place scheme, championed by Modus, is dead.

However we're assured that the Union Square (old Fleming Way Post Office site) scheme, to be carried out by Muse, is "moving ahead".

But this small piece of news from last year shows an ironic twist. A celebratory lunch (was it on expenses? Surely not!), organised by Anne Snelgrove MP wasn't attended by the group it was arranged for, Muse (in recognition of the Union Square deal). So instead, the crustless sandwiches and little cakes were in honour of the people from Modus, celebrating the Regent's Regent Place deal.

Oh the irony.

Swindon Centric Says ; If the Union Square scheme gets built, I'll give Anne Snelgrove and everyone at the New Swindon Company a jam donut*. Probably, depending on the current economic conditions and what the response of the market is to a donut-based investment in the vibrant hub that is Swindon.

* Offer is subject to withdrawal at anytime.

Councillors Keep Hands Off Lifeboat Plug... For Now

As Komadori has noted, the council seem to be taking a very picky attitude to anyone who's a street trader in the town centre, which in a recession seems foolhardy.

The one saving grace, at least, for the minute, is the delaying on making a decision until the committee has more information (a shocking flash of honesty there).

Swindon Centric Says ; Similar to pulling a plughole out of a lifeboat after the ship has sunk and the lifeboat is all you have. Those street traders better invest in some armbands.

Oh So Quiet... Granville Street Development On Hold

A day after the scheme for the residential tower at Regent Circus was shelved, due to the recession, another part of another area due for building has been announced to be going the same way, fast.

The Regent Place (not to be confused with the college site at Regent Circus) area of 'The Hub' area of the rebuilding of the town centre, on the Granville Street carpark, has been shelved for the moment as the retail sector readjusts during the recession.

An attempt at reassurance came out of Councillor Young that the 'Union Square' area (formerly called 'The Exchange' and located on the swathes of land between Fleming Way, the bus station and the railway station) is signed and sealed contract-wise.

Swindon Centric Says ; The New Swindon Company don't seem to be doing much to justify their existence, except renaming the development areas as a marketing team might do the same for a theme park.

Expecting a runaway mine money train to be put into the plans for Regent Place any day now, once the market picks up of course.

Every Little Helps, But Tesco Might Not Be At Regent Circus

Where Swindon Centric leads, others follow, with the Adver today publishing details about the Regent Circus back-and-forth discussions.

So the majority of the scheme is still alive, but the tower plan has been put on hold for the moment, maybe after the recession it'll rise with the green shoots. But the supermarket will either be Morrisons, Waitrose, Somerfield (soon to be the Co-op) or Tesco.

Swindon Centric Says ; As long as the cinema scheme is retained, then, after 5pm, the area won't go dead like most of the town centre at the moment.

Every Little Helps With Regent Circus Development

A short story on BBC Radio Wiltshire this morning suggested that contracts are on the verge of being signed for the supermarket that will be part of the Regent Circus development. This ties with this post at the end of last month about the redevelopment negotiations.

Coincidentally, an overheard conversation in the town centre today suggested that Tesco, currently hidden away underneath Debenhams, will relocate "further up town".

Swindon Centric Says ; Will it be Tesco that will sit on the former college site?

Bingo-ing Mad 3 ; Horses, Councils & Big Stable Doors

The efforts (of sorts) of Swindon Borough Council to get the Regent Circus bingo hall reopened have proved much too little, much too late. After the operators Rank blamed the double taxes they have to pay under gaming laws, the Council bought the building with no thought as to what would happen to it in the short to medium term before the redevelopment of the area happens.

Announcing, like a drunk waking up to find themselves in the bath and a hazy recollection of the reason they have a new building on their books, they tried to make amends. But the regional manager of the Rank Group said no.

Plenty of comments were made by the company as to the reasons it wasn't viable to keep running the Swindon hall. However, there were no further comments made by any councillors, particularly those responsible for economic development and regeneration. Also, the New Swindon Company stayed out of the whole situation.

Swindon Centric Says ; Congratulations, SBC win the award for Most Ineffective Council Activity for week ending Saturday 19th April. Along with the win, there's a new dictionary in the post to Councillor Phil Young, (member for economic development, regeneration and for good measure development again) who admitted he has no plans for the site, so he can look up the words that are used in his job description.

Bingo-ing Mad 2 ; Council Tries To Change A Bad Call

Swindon Borough Council appear to be trying to do something about the sudden and pointless closure of the Regent Circus Mecca Bingo hall. A meeting is due to take place today between our favourite councillor, Phil Young, member for economic development, regeneration and for good measure development again, and a Mecca Bingo area manager.

The worrying words from Mr Young about what's planned for the site, "We've got no timescale. We're drawing up the plans for what we'd like to see there. But we do want to make the most of it until we know what's happening. We're going to look into it and if there is potential to keep them there then we'd be delighted to do so."

Mr Young also uttered this gem, "We hope to talk on it's future to get him to understand the importance of the bingo hall to the people."

It's shocking to think that the council member for regeneration and economic development has no timescale or clue as to what they'll now do with their latest property acquisition. Another hint to the obvious may come from the use of the former cinema as a bingo hall since 1974, which would give councillor Young a clue as to, "if there is potential" for bingo on the site.

But Mr Young's winning ball is his intention to tell the Mecca Bingo area manager the, "importance of the bingo hall to the people." Perhaps Mr Young should have noticed this too before agreeing to the purchase of the building from Mecca without asking any questions and just accepting closure like a mug who's been door-stepped by a utility company and signed without looking.

Swindon Centric Says ; Mr Young and the council seem to have looked up the words 'economic', and 'development' in the dictionary over the weekend, however they still haven't grasped the definition of both.

Next lesson, look up the word 'regeneration'.

Then use all words in a sentence Mr Young.

PS - Are the people from the New Swindon Company on holiday throughout all this?

Bingo-ing Mad Moves By Council

The word cackhanded seems appropriate for today's news that the Mecca Bingo hall at Regent Circus is to close - in a week and remain empty for years.

Owners Rank have sold the building to Swindon Borough Council, who might have accepted the offer after one too many drinks at Rudi's next door if the surprised attitude of the councillor for Covingham and Nythe is anything to go by. Councillor Phil Young, cabinet member for economic development, regeneration and development said they have no plans to do anything with the site in the near future.

The council have a policy to take ownership of sites that form part of future regeneration plans, but when the member in charge of implementing that policy says "we have no plans", why didn't they make the Rank Group sell it onto someone else in the meantime? This seems to be the Tented Market scenario all over again, but even with a plan in place, there's no promise that the developers will come up with anything progressive.

Swindon Centric Says ; What the hell is going on at Swindon Borough Council? Is the whole coachload of councillors asleep at the wheel? So the member for economic development is to achieve his objectives, by leaving usable buildings vacant? Where is the New Swindon Company's voice in all this, or are they on the same bus as the council, snoozing?

PS - If this continues, the new central library is going to look bizzare with the hulking ruin of the college at the foot of Victoria Hill and a boarded up bingo hall across the road for company.

No 'News' In Today's Papers, Residents Not At All Surprised.

The remote possibility that a pub may be haunted, backed up by some 'evidence' in the form of dubious camera phone footage, has taken the place of any real news today.

No-one is particularly surprised. But what is inexcusable is the lack of coverage of those stories that really matter to the town as proper local news. As Komadori rightly pointed out, the Council is to discuss tonight the proposed replacement to the Tented Market at the corner of Commercial Road and Farnsby Street. The replacement is another faceless, 'could be anywhere' set of retail units. When did the word 'building' get replaced by the sterile, uninspiring word 'unit' in planning parlance?

Lets hope planning officers take on board the definition 'landmark' and tell the designers to try harder. Same for the town's news coverage. Start by looking up the word 'news'.

Swindon Centric Says ; If the proposed design is approved then the impact of residents sense on that area will be unchanged. Its sure to be the case that people will give directions to drivers as "where the tented market used to be". What stands out about the 'units' design?

Write in and tell us and you could win a free copy of artist's impressions.

I Wouldn't Touch Him With A Barge Pole ; Perhaps For £50 Million

We've been told a couple of interesting details this week.

Firstly a study into putting the canal back through the town centre would cost £50 million.

Next, the leader of the Borough Council, Roderick Bluh, said the money would not come from local taxpayers.

Which seems fair enough, he said that since £1.5 billion was being spent to regenerate the town centre, that £50 million isn't that much in comparison.

He added that the money would be from regeneration agencies. Since those government derived agencies (English Partnerships is the main one) get their money from central government, we do pay for it, on a national level.

Swindon Centric Says ; The canal seems like a good idea, lets hope it's done properly.

Town Centre Teaching ; UWE Heads For North Star

After just a short period of quiet, the University Of The West Of England has signed an agreement with the Council to draw up detailed plans for a campus at North Star.

The site will cater for up to 3000 students, with strong ties to local, Swindon based businesses.

Swindon Centric Says ; Some have said this campus wouldn't be 'big university' sized, compared to other places. Perhaps Swindon could set a new trend, with a half a dozen universities with small campuses in the town?

Swindon ; Striving to be different?

What's The Work At Wharf Green?

With work due to start this week on the first area to be redeveloped in the much hyped New Swindon Company managed regeneration, we'd like to ask something.

Exactly what is going to be different at Wharf Green than what went before?

You'll recall there use to be a vast green area, poorly maintained that was taken up, mature trees and all and tarmaced over. Since the original plan of a climbing wall on the Brunel carpark was dropped the only real change is the big screen TV to be hung from the car park, facing down Canal Walk. In the picture above there is what looks like windmills on top of the carpark, not talked about before anywhere that we can remember.

Swindon Centric Says ; There'll be some additional flower and shrub beds, new flooring, but it's not really much? We're not trying to put a negative spin on this, it's good that work is to begin, but surely flooring and greenery are 'finishing off' that should happen once big construction work has finished?

PS The New Swindon Company website is vague about details for Wharf Green, do you know more? Let us know.

Flats On The Hill ; Locals Throw Up Several Floors Of Opposition

With the results of our latest-ish user interactive interface, Swindon Centric can give the council and developers thousands of pounds worth of free polling.

66% of those polled said Old Town needs more flats like a hole in the head.

33% said the top of town does need more flats. We can't help think those people are those who want to make a fast buck by buying property up and leasing it to line their pockets.

Curiously, nobody answered 'no'.

Swindon Centric Says ; More scientific than a doppler radar, cheaper than a cornish pastie ; the Swindon Centric User Interface!

My Locarno Is Now A Trendy Wine Bar

After years of standing weedy and slightly charred (twice), the old Locarno building in Old Town is to be rebuilt as, mostly, luxury flats.

There is provision for a gym and bar plus restaurant in the plans, which have yet to be confirmed as the owner has to apply for a license. Of course we all know how new applications for alcohol licenses are felt about by residents in Swindon.

Swindon Centric Says ; On the one hand it's good this plan has been signed, ok it's not yet built, but it's another step forward. But there is a real worry among Swindonians that Old Town will have thousands of flats and no facilities. Could the situation that reared itself on the new estates built around the town come back to haunt the modern day council? That was when estate after estate of new houses were built with no schools, shops, playgrounds, GPs etc to accompany them. Several areas of Swindon continue to suffer the ill effects of poor infrastructure provision to this day.

Will this poor planning situation be repeated and magnified in Old Town because of the high density of residences?

Swindon - Wide Empty Spaces

The behind the scenes of the town centre redevelopment has moved on a step with the selling of Davis House, just off Corporation Street.

However, the New Swindon Company admits that building work of any sort won't start until March, but will probably be delayed until after next summer. Davis House is part of The Exchange redevelopment scheme which includes the former Thamesdown Transport depot and bus station.

Swindon Centric Says ; When are any of the spaces in the town centre going to be built on and wouldn't it be better to keep buildings that are due for redevelopment in use until the construction is to start?

Swindon Should Stop Being Ambitious ; Someone Reckons Its Too Much Like Hard Work

Some of those with an interest in the rebuilding work in Swindon Town Centre have said we shouldn't bite of more than we can chew by spending too much time talking about putting the canal back through our centre.

Instead, we should be concentrating on putting plenty of office space in the town centre and prevent anything impeding on that.

Swindon Centric Says ; The Fleming Way Post Office, the former Police Station, The Bus Depot site, how long have these been clear for? Maybe if there had been a rolling programme of building work, the worry about being over ambitious wouldn't figure.

Bigger Picture Plans For Town Centre Need's Widescreen View

With the great news that there are plans for not one, but two multiscreen cinemas in the town centre regeneration a few people have been expresing concern (what else?) about the ambition of the schemes.

Some have said the chances of the plans becoming reality are slim to none, since past ideas and dreams for Swindon Town Centre have stayed on drawing boards, residents view of hopes being raised has become muddied as they are too quickly dashed. One cinema was always part of the masterplan on the Granville Street car park, now another is planned as part of the Regent Circus rebuilding.

Swindon Centric Says ; Two cinemas is two cinemas more than we have in the centre right now and combined with a rerouted canal and anything being built on all the brownfield-white hoarding covered sites that are currently taking up large chunks of the town, its got to better than leaving things as they are. Too long have we had to put up with a half-finished feeling to the town's central area.

Lets get these things built. Lets get it done at last and don't get hung up on the small things.