Agree with some of that (and Swindon having missed the boat, in particular), but not the bit about Basingstoke town centre. We're within easy reach of Reading, Basingstoke and Guildford. Reading and Guildford we go to fairly often, but never Basingstoke. It is new, but still feels a bit tacky to me. You just know it isn't going to age well. Reading has a much better centre. Anyone who thinks Swindon is soulless has never been to Basingstoke. And don't get me started on Bracknell.
The new bit in Basingstoke just feels like a new generic arcade to me. The old bit is poop but compared to what was there before the town is like the garden of Eden! I like the fact there is a food bit and a cinema too. Plus it was 5 mins walk from our flat.
Reading's Oracle is vastly superior of course. But Reading nearly twice the size of Basingstoke so maybe that isn't a fair comparison.
Anyway the main point. Swindump:
What the hell are those tacky lights they have put in the paving near where Virgin was? Jesus christ, did that actually cost money to do? It looks 70's out of date already.
Does Basingstoke have a Town Centre? I used think the signs on the ring road that said 'town centre' was a practical joke, 'cos if you daft enough to follow them you got no-where near it, forever doomed to travel round the ring road permanently.
Its called a ring road for a reason
