Swindon Civic Trust
Encyclopedia
The Swindon Civic Trust is a voluntary organisation and registered charity established in Swindon
, England
in 2001. Affiliated to the Civic Trust
of England and Wales, the organisation's stated aims are to improve the quality of new and historic buildings and public spaces, and to help improve the general quality of urban life.
It was formed in 2001 at the AGM
of the New Mechanics' Institution Preservation Trust, a group with the primary aim of preventing the destruction and disuse of Swindon's Mechanics' Institute
, and since then it has become a vocal campaigner in the town for a variety of topics. The Civic Trust applied for registered charity status in 2002.
Operating under the motto "Working together to create a better Swindon", the trust issued questionnaires to all candidates for the 2006 local elections
to be held in May, canvassing them on their views of how to improve, develop and promote Swindon and published the answers on their website.
"The trust strongly believed that a town centre university was vital for the successful economic and social regeneration of the central area."
The New Swindon Company originally rejected the idea of a campus in its scheme, claiming there was no room in the centre for such a development. Swindon Civic Trust canvassed the local population and identified various sites in the Town Centre where such a complex could be constructed.
scheme.
Following acceptance, Swindon Civic Trust are now the body that issues and erects these plaques in the Swindon area. The initial plaque was erected on the former residence of the de Villet family who were (with the Goddard family
) one of the most influential families in Swindon from the period 1600-1900. The Civic Trust has invited local residents to nominate further sitings of Blue Plaques in the town.
lies on the eastern outskirts of Swindon, it is a large nature reserve that also contains a pre-historic Stone Circle. Following Swindon Borough Council's decision not to site a University Campus in the Town Centre, they earmarked land adjacent to Coate Water and the Great Western Hospital
as a potential site for a satellite campus for the University of Bath
.
The Civic Trust opposed this move, stating that any development in this area would in all likelihood impact on the local ecosystem. The Trust once again pointed out the potential for a Campus location in the Town Centre, stating that -
"The town centre desperately needs the stimulus that a central campus would bring if it is to attract developers for its long overdue redevelopment"
The issue was further compounded when Coate Water was voted "Swindon's Favourite Place" by the local population, in a competition organised by the trust.
Protests, including the 2004 "Hands around Coate Water" event, have heightened awareness of the Trust's campaign. Revised plans for the development are to be submitted.
in the organisation of Brunel 200, the local and national celebration of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
's 200th birthday. The trust arranged exhibitions in the town displaying historic images and records celebrating amongst others, the impact of the Great Western Railway
and also the siting of the GWR Works
in the town.
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 2001. Affiliated to the Civic Trust
Civic Trust
The Civic Trust of England was a charitable organisation founded in 1957. It ceased operations in 2009 and went into administration due to lack of funds/...
of England and Wales, the organisation's stated aims are to improve the quality of new and historic buildings and public spaces, and to help improve the general quality of urban life.
It was formed in 2001 at the AGM
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
of the New Mechanics' Institution Preservation Trust, a group with the primary aim of preventing the destruction and disuse of Swindon's Mechanics' Institute
Mechanics' Institutes
Historically, Mechanics' Institutes were educational establishments formed to provide adult education, particularly in technical subjects, to working men...
, and since then it has become a vocal campaigner in the town for a variety of topics. The Civic Trust applied for registered charity status in 2002.
Operating under the motto "Working together to create a better Swindon", the trust issued questionnaires to all candidates for the 2006 local elections
United Kingdom local elections, 2006
Local government elections took place in England on Thursday 4 May 2006. Polling stations were open between 7:00 and 22:00.All London borough council seats were up for election, as well as a third of the seats on each of the metropolitan borough councils, and a third of some unitary authorities...
to be held in May, canvassing them on their views of how to improve, develop and promote Swindon and published the answers on their website.
Swindon Town Centre Regeneration
The trust put forwards its own proposals for the regeneration of Swindon Town Centre in 2004, as it felt the omission of Further Education or University campus' by Swindon Borough Council and the New Swindon Company was flawed."The trust strongly believed that a town centre university was vital for the successful economic and social regeneration of the central area."
The New Swindon Company originally rejected the idea of a campus in its scheme, claiming there was no room in the centre for such a development. Swindon Civic Trust canvassed the local population and identified various sites in the Town Centre where such a complex could be constructed.
Blue Plaques
The trust campaigned for recognition of Swindon's landmarks and notable residences, these are commemorated elsewhere in the United Kingdom through English Heritage's Blue plaqueBlue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
scheme.
Following acceptance, Swindon Civic Trust are now the body that issues and erects these plaques in the Swindon area. The initial plaque was erected on the former residence of the de Villet family who were (with the Goddard family
Goddard family
The Goddard family were a prominent landed family chiefly living in the northern region of the English counties of Wiltshire and Hampshire and the western part of Berkshire, between the Tudor period and the late modern era....
) one of the most influential families in Swindon from the period 1600-1900. The Civic Trust has invited local residents to nominate further sitings of Blue Plaques in the town.
Coate Water
Coate Water Country ParkCoate Water Country Park
Coate Water is a country park situated to the southeast of central Swindon, near Junction 15 of the M4. It takes its name from the main feature, a reservoir originally built to provide water for the Wilts and Berks Canal....
lies on the eastern outskirts of Swindon, it is a large nature reserve that also contains a pre-historic Stone Circle. Following Swindon Borough Council's decision not to site a University Campus in the Town Centre, they earmarked land adjacent to Coate Water and the Great Western Hospital
Great Western Hospital
Great Western Hospital is a large hospital situated in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, next to junction 15 of the M4 motorway.- Building :The architect was Whicheloe Macfarlane, who designed the hospital with a concrete frame design. Flat slab concrete floors 30 cm deep are supported by a...
as a potential site for a satellite campus for the University of Bath
University of Bath
The University of Bath is a campus university located in Bath, United Kingdom. It received its Royal Charter in 1966....
.
The Civic Trust opposed this move, stating that any development in this area would in all likelihood impact on the local ecosystem. The Trust once again pointed out the potential for a Campus location in the Town Centre, stating that -
"The town centre desperately needs the stimulus that a central campus would bring if it is to attract developers for its long overdue redevelopment"
The issue was further compounded when Coate Water was voted "Swindon's Favourite Place" by the local population, in a competition organised by the trust.
Protests, including the 2004 "Hands around Coate Water" event, have heightened awareness of the Trust's campaign. Revised plans for the development are to be submitted.
Promotion of Swindon's heritage
Swindon Civic Trust assisted English Heritage and the Steam MuseumSwindon Steam Railway Museum
STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, also known as Swindon Steam Railway Museum, is located at the site of the old railway works in Swindon, England – Wiltshire's 'railway town'...
in the organisation of Brunel 200, the local and national celebration of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
's 200th birthday. The trust arranged exhibitions in the town displaying historic images and records celebrating amongst others, the impact of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
and also the siting of the GWR Works
Swindon Works
Swindon railway works were built by the Great Western Railway in 1841 in Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire.-History:In 1835 Parliament approved the construction of a railway between London and Bristol. Its Chief Engineer was Isambard Kingdom Brunel.From 1836, Brunel had been buying...
in the town.
External links
- Official Swindon Civic Trust Website (no longer online)
- Swindon Gallery(no longer online) - Swindon Civic Trust Website aiming to create a visual record of the town
- savecoate.org.uk(no longer online) - Campaign website to prevent development of Coate Water Country ParkCoate Water Country ParkCoate Water is a country park situated to the southeast of central Swindon, near Junction 15 of the M4. It takes its name from the main feature, a reservoir originally built to provide water for the Wilts and Berks Canal....