Keep Your Ear To The Wall

After a delay, today saw the green walls in Canal Walk revealed. The larger one on the pedestrian bridge is radically different to what's gone before. The other green wall is smaller, and higher up, on the thin edge of the eastern side of the girder bridge.

Despite the heated discussion about the water feature and the town centre redevelopment, the green wall has got off (relatively) lightly. It'll be interesting to see how it goes, what it looks like in brighter conditions and what flowers/matures on it.

Swindon Centric Says : The green wall is certainly a grower, not too sure about the Mickey Mouse ears being put on the wall of the Brunel carpark at the same time. A moment after this picture was taken, Swindon Centric saw one side of the ears become terribly lopsided, appeared a worker had let go, oops!

Tune in tomorrow to see if the ears are where they should be, unlike Swindon Centric's which are always deliberately kept to the ground.

The Living Wall : Autumn Planting

Whatever administration and red tape would appear now to be over and it's full steam ahead for the Living Wall on the bridges above Canal Walk.

Swindon Centric Says ; We've got some spare crocus bulbs, any help?

P.S. - It's a shame that this seems to have been 'announced' by the council, rather than Forward Swindon, there's nothing on their main site, or recently reinvigorated twitter page about it. Maybe the council wanted to get this out to be seen to be doing something on town centre improvements after Karen Walker's resignation.

But why not get Forward Swindon to announce this? Otherwise, what's the point of the company?

The Living Wall : Soon To Germinate?

Swindon Centric has an update on the Living Wall (posted about back in May) that was planned as part of the Canal Walk redevelopment.

After a tip-off, administration behind the scenes is currently being concluded and then work can start.

Swindon Centric Says ; Thank you G for the tip-off on this growing story. Groan.... apologies... puns like that should be buried... and sorry again.

Is the Living Wall Dead On Arrival?

A big and flashy part of the Canal Walk redevelopment was the Living Wall on the bridge between the Brunel Centre and Brunel Arcade.

So where is it?

The Canal Walk project has been touted as finished and work has now moved on to Regent Street. So what happened to the wall?

Swindon Centric Says : Considering that root and branch reform of the New Swindon Company/Forward Swindon has been a rolling wish by many for a while, it's not surprising that a part of the 'vibrant' vision has been lost in the long grass.

A Glimpse At Redevelopment Purgatory

Swindon Centric was loitering in town earlier and saw the gate to the former Thamesdown Transport depot on Corporation Street open and signs of activity with building supplies occupying some of the vast space.

I'd like to think that it's the beginning of the Union Square work, but it's probably being used as storage for work happening elsewhere, the repaving of Canal Walk perhaps? It's easy to forget how vast a space the Union Square development covers, the picture above shows how big just the old bus depot site is.

Swindon Centric Says ; I wonder if there are any tram rails left under the concrete, from when the site was the tram depot?

From Dabbers To Rockers

The trend for reuse of existing buildings (that were previously earmarked for demolition) continues with the former Mecca Bingo hall at Regent Circus.

It's now been confirmed that the new owner's intention is to turn it into a venue for live music.

Swindon Centric recalls the cackhanded way the closure was handled.

And comments about the asbestos making the building "impossible" to use, really weren't accurate then, were they?

Swindon Centric Says ; The tented market, the new music venue, lets keep this revival of shuttered buildings going...

A New Start For The New Swindon Company?

The news that the Chief Executive of The New Swindon Company is to step down should be a moment to assess exactly what the organisation is for.

The schemes that is came up with were, no doubt, grand, but they have nearly all fallen by the wayside, mostly due to the recession.

But, getting down to the nitty gritty of physically doing things seems to have been the job of Swindon Borough Council. As it says under the 'Local Forum' heading in the 'Blog' section on their site, "delivering regeneration... is a long-term plan...so if you don’t hear anything new for a while it does not mean we have stopped."

Under Mr James direction, the opposite seems to have been the case, with each tiny step publicised to within an inch of it's life.

Swindon Centric Says ; Good wishes for whatever Mr James goes onto, but in Swindon, we now need to know the answers to two questions...

1. Who is really in charge of driving and delivering Swindon's rebuilding, The New Swindon Company or Swindon Borough Council?

2. Will Mr James' replacement knuckle down to the painstaking details and only been seen in the press when we have a viable, inspiring plan and cranes on the horizon?

Made In Swindon 4 - Wharf Green Sculpture Returns, Hooray!

When the Wharf Green work started a few years ago, the Blondis sculpture was removed and sort-of forgotten about.

However, the refurbished playground at St Mark's Recreation Ground has had a welcome addition, with the sculpture of the two circus performers installed.

Swindon Centric Says ; Good to see, after the Golden Lion Bridge mural restoration, that this piece of Swindon's art has also been retained and restored. Could this possibly be a reemergence of Thamesdown Borough Council's art policy in the 70s and 80s, we shall keep looking for further evidence.

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.

Mural Restoration - The Excellent Side Of Regeneration

The New Swindon Company may have been around since the town centre didn't quite look as bad as it does now, but not much has happened of note since then.

So Swindon Centric declares that the best part of anything in the town centre is the repainting of the Golden Lion Bridge Mural by it's creator, Ken White.

Swindon Centric Says ; You can tell this isn't a New Swindon Company project, because this one is actually going to happen.

Where else should we have a new generation of murals in Swindon? Ideas welcome.

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.

Big Project In The Shopping Bag - At Last

The Regent Place scheme, which will be built within the Commercial Road, Regent Street area, has been, finally, signed off.

At the same time, someone from the quiet-as-a-mouse, New Swindon Company, came out of hiding to say how pleased they were.

Swindon Centric Says ; Ok, the first hurdle is cleared, now lets see how long before the work begins. The clock is ticking...

The Market Saga Continues, Crossroads Like

The replacement for the closed Tented Market in the town centre has been rejected yet again by the council planning committee.

The latest version submitted for approval looked better than the last, but was still not defining the word 'landmark' in it's fullest sense. Despite the recommendation of planning officers to grant the scheme approval, members of the committee thought different thank goodness. The current artists impression shows the market replacement showing it's best side facing backwards to the one way traffic system, meaning the majority of people would see the least attractive side of the building approaching from Farnsby Street. There doesn't seem to have been much attention to detail in the latest version.

Swindon Centric Says ; We're pleased that a decent standard of build for this part of the town centre redevelopment is being upheld. But it's disconcerting how long one, relatively small part of the whole regeneration masterplan is taking. Swindon Borough Council better speed up it's dealings on this major part of it's remit.

Once again, where in the world is the New Swindon Company in this Crossroads saga? Been sent out for a bag of sugar anf never seen again?

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.

Swindon's Under-Recognised Artists Need Say In Town Centre Redevelopment

Local artist, Ken White has finished two murals at Commonweal School of local actresses Diana Dors and Billie Piper.

He wrote Dors name below her picture, because he didn't think local children would know who she was. Piper's was left blank as Ken suggested she may want to come and sign it herself.

Swindon Centric Says ; Ken White and other local artists should be given the opportunity for huge input to the town centre redevelopment. Yes, we do have a few doing some sculptures with the felled trees from Wharf Green, but we need more. Huge murals could become Swindon's new town centre unique selling point, along with the extra shops the New Swindon Company hopes to attract. Many of us talk about the murals that were all over town decades ago, what about a programme of constant new murals, say several every year?

Is anyone from New Swindon Company reading this?

Swindon Shopping Rumours 3 ; John Lewis Drops Anchor In Swindon

Swindon Centric can reveal today, from a reliable source, that John Lewis will be part of the town centre redevelopment.

The department store will build premises on the former Fleming Way Post Office site, across the road from the current Debenhams location. That store will move to the Regents Place development, off Commercial Road.

This will give two major stores at either end of the main retail area, 'anchor stores' as they are called.

Swindon Centric Says ; We are now wondering what will become of House Of Fraser's building (they will move out in the next few years), with it being a hybrid of the old Brunel market and partly new building. Will any other retailers find it suitable, or will it be sub-divided for smaller outlets?