Machanics Building ...again

[Bushey Boy]

You gotta feel for the bloke, whatever he does he can beat the old biddies who keep fighting it.  I would hate to see it fall apart (its bad enough already) but maybe thats what these twats deserve.

He will never win as all they do is sprout negative things.

[mattboyslim]

Its crazy, last i knew was he just wanted to repalce the more recent and unsightly brick column in the middle with a glass column.  Ultimately even if he goes bust in a few years if his idea fails at least the basis of the building has been saved, and it can be used for something else.  but teh level of money needed just to stop it falling down requires a solution designed to make money, the philanthropic ideals can't work unless SBC decides to shut about three shools to pay for it!

[Bushey Boy]

He isnt going to go bust believe me.  The thing is he owns it, he bought it for so little he can afford upkeep.  The peopel should work with him not against as its gonna fall in about 3-5 years

[mattboyslim]

That's good news, i kind of had this feelign eh'd spend a fortune, stop it falling down then build a white elephant.  People are far too short sighted IMHO, always looking back.

[janaage]

What's going on with this chaps.  Pardon my ignorance but is the mechanics institute the smashed up building on station road?

If it is the sooner it's done up the better.  If that building was in any other town of Swindon's size you can't help but think it would be in a top notch condition, floodlight at night, a real diamond.  Here, it looks like a squatters paradise.

[mattboyslim]

Basically a chap called Matthew Singh (last I knew) was trying to modernise it and make it into a hotel amongst other things.  It is held back by it's lack of parking, and the stupid locals who seem to thing it needs to be a community facility (as it was in the railweay era).  Alas owing to the disrepair of the place it will cost a small bomb to fix, and as such will need to offer a return on develoment costs, it seems unlikely that the council can afford (or be bothered?) to do owt about it.  

This chap has ideas and money but hits more stumbling blocks than an STFC takeover, and the building ever nears collapse.  it would be bloody ace IMHO that with the locarno being done in Old Town they could sort out the Mechanics, as it would give, what has become in places a very run down part of town, a massive lift.

[STFC_Gazzza]

My Nan who used to go to the Mechanics Institute when it was in use by workers at the Railways works and GWR says she feels heartbroken when she sees it now. Yes it was community based before but it was a place to meet mates etc or socialise etc.

I think the best thing they could have done with that building is to use it as a the central library  (prior to building at the town hall) with a cafe, reading room and theatre which would resemble something of its past as well by being community orientated but also be used for something we needed.

The Mechanics Trust has plans which would save the building but I dont see how they would ever make money back off it. Everything these days is a business and thus people expect to make money.

Give it ten more years and it wont be worth repairing at all.

[flammableBen]

Isn't the bloke who owns it responsible for keeping at a certain level of repair? Meaning he can't just let it fall down?

[mattboyslim]

The problem of making it a library is that it would be a huge challege to meet the stringent demands of both modern technology and the DDA, the cost of rennovation is probably double what it would be for the new site at Regent Circus, and the area is not as well facilitated by public transport as the top of town, especially with all the new develoment work on teh old college site due soon.  It is a nice idea, which would appease many people, however i would struggle to see it making viable financial sense, and perhaps its location surrounded by pubs might make it seem undesirabel so some (not that Regent's Circus isn't)

[STFC_Gazzza]

The problem of making it a library is that it would be a huge challege to meet the stringent demands of both modern technology and the DDA, the cost of rennovation is probably double what it would be for the new site at Regent Circus, and the area is not as well facilitated by public transport as the top of town, especially with all the new develoment work on teh old college site due soon.  It is a nice idea, which would appease many people, however i would struggle to see it making viable financial sense, and perhaps its location surrounded by pubs might make it seem undesirabel so some (not that Regent's Circus isn't)

Parking is close by near the Town Centre (which would I guess also work for the hotel plans etc). I think you can get lottery grants etc to pay portions of the repair work to listed buildings however I am not sure. Alan H would know all about that. Obviously a library etc there would be a pipe dream now though.... The only other idea than a hotel really is to turn it into a theatre. A decent one to replace the Wyvern which is/was in a bad way. I think it has been done up but then once again you appease the nimbys and it reflects something of itspast. You could also have a bar/pub/social club for people to have a drink before and after shows or hire out for conferences and public functions.

[Bushey Boy]

The funniest thing is the people moaning live in the railway village, that place is full up of squaters and skag heads....the trust cant do anything as they do not own it.

[Colin Todd]

We all know that trusts are full of busybodies

They might have some pretty ideas for the place, but how do they intent to pay for it when they dont even own the place currently?  Sounds like a pipe dream to me

Just let singh do what he wants with it. Anything is better than its current eyesore status

[McLovin]

The building would be a perfect Carling Academy. Train and bus stations within walking distance... two massive multi-storey car parks... hotels galore. It makes sense.