Trivial things you don't understand/mildly annoy you

[Red Frog]

Buying an AFC Wimbledon scarf from their site for a fourteen-year-old girl who lives in Edinburgh and doesn't know which way up to hold a football, but is a passionate fan of John Green. Can't help feeling we missed a trick there - they have a sponsorship deal with him that sees all his YouTube income go to them.

http://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/commercial/john-green.aspx

[Batch]

Sport England having to legally defend their assertion that bridge isn't a sport.

of course it isn't. hope that's thrown out in 2 minutes.

[Ardiles]

The state of the Mechanics' Institute in the Railway Village.  It's a ####ing disgrace.  We celebrated a good friend's 60th birthday in the Glue Pot before Saturday's game.  We'd also been there for his 50th, and it struck me that the boarded up, dilapidated and, franky, dangerous state of the building opposite the pub was exactly as it had been 10 years ago.  Ten years of people doing precisely #### all to bring this building back to life.  When it there going to be enquiry about this?

For a town of its size, Swindon is not exactly over-run these days with important buildings from the past that are worth saving - which, surely, means that those that have survived in some form should receive special attention.  Roll forward another 10 years and, most probably, there will no longer be a building there to save.  And all those in a position to do something about it will know that they had years (no, decades) to sort it out...but, instead, did nothing.  Others will know much more about the legal roadblocks that exist to saving the building; but, whatever they are, they need to be navigated quickly.  Where there's a will...

[Barry Scott]

Just look at the Locano. People would rather a building fell down than be used for something not in the best interests of 100% of the "community". I think it's very much a case of people cutting off their nose to spite their face.

[Red Frog]

Just look at the Locano. People would rather a building fell down than be used for something not in the best interests of 100% of the "community". I think it's very much a case of people cutting off their nose to spite their face.

What happened? Last I read, a couple of years ago, there was a big redevelopment proposal put to the council?

http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=2&s=2033&ss=2127&c=12681&t=The+Grand+Plan+For+Old+Town

Swindon's planners really have criminally neglected its historic buildings. And you wonder why people call the town soulless?

[Skinny Pete]

My son is a Director of The Mechanics Trust. There have been several issues historically holding back any redevelopment.


It will, indeed, cost a lot of money to restore – £12million upwards, according to the Trust – but nobody is expecting the Council to pick up the bill. Lottery and heritage funds should provide the necessary money for restoration, and it is not anticipated that local Council Taxpayers will pay anything towards restoration costs. The big issue here is whether any future owner can meet the ongoing costs of running it, because this will not be drawn from national funds, and is unlikely to be subsidised by Swindon Borough Council (in the way that it subsidises the STEAM Museum annually. That’s why an economically viable business plan from a non-profit-seeking organisation, like the one proposed by the Trust, is crucial. The potential for the project to restore the Mechanics’ and turn it once again into a social and community asset is proven by the success of many such projects across the country since the National Lottery was established in 1995, the year the Trust was formed.

Here is the proposed development

http://mechanics-trust.org.uk/proposal-for-mechanics/

[Barry Scott]

What happened? Last I read, a couple of years ago, there was a big redevelopment proposal put to the council?

http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=2&s=2033&ss=2127&c=12681&t=The+Grand+Plan+For+Old+Town

Swindon's planners really have criminally neglected its historic buildings. And you wonder why people call the town soulless?

God knows, but if you saw it today it looks like it's close to giving up the ghost. And I agree on your soulless comment. Compounded by driving in the town centre becoming a huge pain in the arse.

[horlock07]

The state of the Mechanics' Institute in the Railway Village.  It's a ####ing disgrace.  We celebrated a good friend's 60th birthday in the Glue Pot before Saturday's game.  We'd also been there for his 50th, and it struck me that the boarded up, dilapidated and, franky, dangerous state of the building opposite the pub was exactly as it had been 10 years ago.  Ten years of people doing precisely #### all to bring this building back to life.  When it there going to be enquiry about this?

For a town of its size, Swindon is not exactly over-run these days with important buildings from the past that are worth saving - which, surely, means that those that have survived in some form should receive special attention.  Roll forward another 10 years and, most probably, there will no longer be a building there to save.  And all those in a position to do something about it will know that they had years (no, decades) to sort it out...but, instead, did nothing.  Others will know much more about the legal roadblocks that exist to saving the building; but, whatever they are, they need to be navigated quickly.  Where there's a will...

I was a distant member of the Trust that are looking at it many years ago but let it plapse as nothing was happening.

Ultimately via a very tortuous route it seems to have arrived back in public (or at least crown estate) ownership and now would appear the perfect time to do something. Not sure if there has been any progress since this Advertiser story http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/NEWS/11043243.Still_no_progress_on_future_of_Mechanics__Institute/ but now ownership is ironed out the project becomes a little easier?

Edit - beaten to it by Audrey above - that what one gets for posing and taking a telephone call at the same time!

[horlock07]

What happened? Last I read, a couple of years ago, there was a big redevelopment proposal put to the council?

http://www.swindonweb.com/?m=2&s=2033&ss=2127&c=12681&t=The+Grand+Plan+For+Old+Town

Swindon's planners really have criminally neglected its historic buildings. And you wonder why people call the town soulless?

To be fair to the planners they did all they could by issuing a an Urgent Works or Repairs Notice (I cannot be bothered to check which route they took), which just lumbered them with a debt to recover when the owning company went bust (hence why Councils are loathe to use their legal powers in these cases).

Its not up to the planners to come up with a viable scheme, although they should be supportive of those who do.

Sadly the grant funding ship has sailed somewhat in the last 5 years, the Heritage Lottery Fund seem little interested in heritage (seriously) whilst Historic England (English Heritage as was) are skint!

[Barry Scott]

I suppose not living next door to it means I don't have quite the same level of interest as those that do, but within sane boundaries, I couldn't give a flying fuck what it's used for (like the locarno) so long as it remains.

[Red Frog]

To be fair to the planners they did all they could by issuing a an Urgent Works or Repairs Notice (I cannot be bothered to check which route they took), which just lumbered them with a debt to recover when the owning company went bust (hence why Councils are loathe to use their legal powers in these cases).

Its not up to the planners to come up with a viable scheme, although they should be supportive of those who do.

Sadly the grant funding ship has sailed somewhat in the last 5 years, the Heritage Lottery Fund seem little interested in heritage (seriously) whilst Historic England (English Heritage as was) are skint!

Well I know that criticising planners is a sensitive subject  but it was really just shorthand for saying what a shame it is that key pieces of the town's heritage are being allowed to slip away. The Corn Market/Locarno looks almost beyond repair now.

[Skinny Pete]

The main problem was that a succession of recent owners have reneged on their promise to restore the fabric of the building - which was a condition of sale. That period of time has seen the building get progressively more run down as it was just left to rot.

It has taken a huge effort to just get to the stage where it is now.

[horlock07]

Well I know that criticising planners is a sensitive subject  but it was really just shorthand for saying what a shame it is that key pieces of the town's heritage are being allowed to slip away. The Corn Market/Locarno looks almost beyond repair now.

Not at all, the majority of them are shite, hence why I now work in the private sector - however they are also sadly limited by what the law provides them with the tools to do and the aspirations of the public and elected members.

Having had some limited dealings with Swindon's planners on another non heritage project they are dreadful.

[Jamiesfuturewife]

The price of the cinema!!! 

[Matchworn Shirts]

The price of the cinema!!! 

I agree, the last film we saw cost us 31euro for 2 tickets