Swindon Town Centre

[Legends-Lounge]

A lot of the stuff sold is manufactured specifically for Outlets so when you buy a pair of Hilfiger jeans, you are getting a pair of Hilfiger jeans but a lower quality to that which you'd pay top price for at a normal shop.

This. And the reason me & the Mrs spent diddly squat in the Mall in Florida a few weeks ago. Sadly my son decided that he needed three pairs of trainers. Still fair play to him it was his saved up money.

[Power to people]

It's run by idiots - both on the political side (councillors) and the executive side (council upper management). We have precisely the town, and the town centre, that we deserve given the calibre of dickhead we continue to put in charge. Simple.

There are a lot of idiots, trouble is it is probably the same on both sides of the political divide, if this was a private company running this project from start to finish instead of the council (at arms length) then I'm sure something would have happened.

I'd like to see if labour can do any worse though, conservative have had the power for years and systematically screwed everything up they seem to be involved in, I cant recall 1 project being done well, even down to road resurfacing.

[ronnie21]

There are a lot of idiots, trouble is it is probably the same on both sides of the political divide, if this was a private company running this project from start to finish instead of the council (at arms length) then I'm sure something would have happened.

I'd like to see if labour can do any worse though, conservative have had the power for years and systematically screwed everything up they seem to be involved in, I cant recall 1 project being done well, even down to road resurfacing.

Agree entirely with your thoughts, sadly many years ago when there was a labour administration they didn't make a very good job of it either, seem to remember the council leader was a lady called Sue who upset an awful lot of people!!  Regardless of political persuasion the council is run by a bunch of amateurs - that is fact not fiction - anybody can put themselves forward to their political party for nomination!!

[pauld]

There are a lot of idiots, trouble is it is probably the same on both sides of the political divide

Absolutely, that's why I didn't do a Reg-like "Tory council" rant

if this was a private company running this project from start to finish instead of the council (at arms length) then I'm sure something would have happened.

Erm, that's exactly the set-up they have employed - an arms-length regeneration company. They've done fuck all. They've spent a shit load of cash on fuck all though. Half of what is wrong with public sector projects over the past two decades (i.e. under govts of both persuasions) is the idea that private sector is magically better. It's not - a badly led project implemented by private providers will fuck up every bit as badly (and often a lot more expensively) than one implemented by the public sector. As exhibits A, B and C, I give you G4S, Atos, and Rikki Hunt's Magic Broadband Scheme

[Ardiles]

The question I keep coming back to is 'What is it about Swindon that makes development uniquely impossible there?'  When the thread started in 2008, Bristol & Reading were listed as examples of local cities in which large projects had been delivered.  They're both sizable places - but in the interim, smaller towns/cities (than Swindon) have also transformed themselves - Basingstoke and, now, Bracknell being the best examples.

There are crap local councillors everywhere.  Why is it Swindon - and only Swindon - that fails so completely to get anything done?

First paragraph in this thread, written 9 yrs ago:

I rarely find myself in the centre of Swindon these days - but sometimes walk through on my way from the pub to home games.  What strikes me is how little the place has changed since I left Swindon for the last time nearly 10 years ago.

...and everything is still the same.  Except the '10 years ago' has now become '20 years ago'.  Astonishing.

[Reg Smeeton]

The question I keep coming back to is 'What is it about Swindon that makes development uniquely impossible there?'  When the thread started in 2008, Bristol & Reading were listed as examples of local cities in which large projects had been delivered.  They're both sizable places - but in the interim, smaller towns/cities (than Swindon) have also transformed themselves - Basingstoke and, now, Bracknell being the best examples.

There are crap local councillors everywhere.  Why is it Swindon - and only Swindon - that fails so completely to get anything done?

First paragraph in this thread, written 9 yrs ago:

...and everything is still the same.  Except the '10 years ago' has now become '20 years ago'.  Astonishing.

 Simple answer, is that it is the result of Swindon's unique history...and its relationship of the political landscape since the 50's.

 I could go on and expand, but can't be arsed.

[horlock07]

Nearly a decade after I started this thread, nothing has changed.

Adver: Council Pulls the Plug on Multi-Million Town Centre Development Deal

I doubt that it ever will.  Something is, clearly, systemically wrong in Swindon.

I have done some work with Muse up this way they are a good developer...

[Ardiles]

When you can, I'd be fascinated to hear it.
 Simple answer, is that it is the result of Swindon's unique history...and its relationship of the political landscape since the 50's.

 I could go on and expand, but can't be arsed.

[pauld]

When you can, I'd be fascinated to hear it.

Me too

[theakston2k]

There are very few less appealing Town Centre's than Swindon both in terms of the area itself and the general atmosphere of the area. When I head towards Subway and Roosters at lunch time I regularly see pissed up drunks arguing and fighting, I wouldn't ever head in to the Town Centre other than to buy lunch. I guess the 2 go hand in hand with a run down area allowing people to loiter with antisocial behaviour as it's seen as a dump so just accepted.

[Mother Brown]

Come on... Garry Perkins got a new car park. It's ideal for junkies and rough sleepers.

Never met the bloke but that there Gary Perkins comes across as a frecin twat imo.

[Reg Smeeton]

Me too

Up until the Thatcher government SBC had a massive amount of autonomy, traditionally Labour run, it had planned and overseen the development of the town.

OK not a socialist utopia, but it had achieved a decent number of outcomes.

In 85, Thatcher took the axe to socialist councils, who wanted to raise funds locally and use them for the benefit of the local people. SBC (then TBC) backed by local activists, joined what became known as the Rate Capping Rebellion. Ultimately Councillors threatened with being surcharged by the courts, caved in and local democratic powers were sucked up to Whitehall.

This explains why just about every civic project in Swindon, like Oasis, Brunel, Link,  CG Athletics track, Golf Course occur pre 85, and nothing much has happened since.

The new art gallery would be a good idea.. and at something like 25 mill, good value for money... about the cost of half a Kyle Walker.

[sonicyouth]

There are very few less appealing Town Centre's than Swindon both in terms of the area itself and the general atmosphere of the area. When I head towards Subway and Roosters at lunch time I regularly see pissed up drunks arguing and fighting, I wouldn't ever head in to the Town Centre other than to buy lunch. I guess the 2 go hand in hand with a run down area allowing people to loiter with antisocial behaviour as it's seen as a dump so just accepted.

I don't think that's exclusive to Swindon or specifically Swindon town centre.

[ronnie21]

Come on... Garry Perkins got a new car park. It's ideal for junkies and rough sleepers.

Yep, and one of the areas they demolished years ago to make way for this new development is home to the traveling folk a couple of times a year - guess they are grateful for a bit of free hard standing to do what they wish, and the taxpayers pay to clean up behind them!

[pauld]

Up until the Thatcher government SBC had a massive amount of autonomy, traditionally Labour run, it had planned and overseen the development of the town.

OK not a socialist utopia, but it had achieved a decent number of outcomes.

In 85, Thatcher took the axe to socialist councils, who wanted to raise funds locally and use them for the benefit of the local people. SBC (then TBC) backed by local activists, joined what became known as the Rate Capping Rebellion. Ultimately Councillors threatened with being surcharged by the courts, caved in and local democratic powers were sucked up to Whitehall.

This explains why just about every civic project in Swindon, like Oasis, Brunel, Link,  CG Athletics track, Golf Course occur pre 85, and nothing much has happened since.

The new art gallery would be a good idea.. and at something like 25 mill, good value for money... about the cost of half a Kyle Walker.

Thanks Reg.