Swindon Civic Trust

Principles of Good Urban Design

How can we help new developments grow into happy, safe, inclusive communities?

The planned expansion of Swindon makes this a vital question for our town.

Holly Huber, Swindon Borough Council’s Community Planner, will address this issue in a lively talk at Heelis, the National Trust’s superb new offices near the Outlet Village.

Entry: £4 at the door, includes light refreshments, free to Swindon Civic Trust members
Venue: Heelis (the new National Trust Central Office) in Kemble Drive, Swindon

Download the flyer hereHolly Huber flyer.

Wild Flowers in Urban Spaces 

An illustrated talk by John Ball

John Ball who developed FAB (wild Flowers And Butterflies), explains how amazing abundance can be generated by helping wildflowers fill the spare nooks and crannies of an urban environment

John will describe what has been achieved at The Haven and many other Swindon sites to prove the leading edge ‘FAB’ concept; which aims to turn cities into bio-diverse reservoirs, to bring nature to peoples’ doorsteps.

So, with Swindon set to grow enormously over the next two decades, come and discuss what could be done to benefit both nature and people.

At 7.30 pm on Thursday 24 April at Heelis (the new National Trust Central Office) in Kemble Drive, Swindon

Entry: £4 at the door, includes light refreshments, free to Swindon Civic Trust members

Download the “Wild Flowers in Urban Spaces Flyer” and put it on your notice broad.

Swindon Night Vision, a talk and discussion about a joint project between Civic Trust consultants and the Borough Council on how to alleviate the problem of alcoholic over indulgence on Saturday nights in the town centre.

Event Flyer – Event Press Release

At Heelis on 22 November.

AGM at 7.00 pm followed by the talk at 7.45 pm.

Press Release Flier / Poster

We recorded Ken Oliver’s talk – click on the player below to listen to this.
( We had a few problem with the sound and lost a small section of the talk. As we didn’t have a microphone for the audience we have edited out the audience question but left in Ken’s answers. )

Find out more at AGM on 22 November

It’s difficult to believe that Swindon Civic Trust has been in existence for more than six years, writes John Monniot.

It seems only yesterday that a few individuals met at the soon to be demolished Swindon College and resolved to start an organisation to:

• give Swindon people a voice in the way the town is being changed by the property developers and the council
• draw attention to the way its heritage is being squandered
• call for better quality and more imaginative development

It’s not been easy to get alternative voices heard. We lacked people power, money, experience and skills and have often faced thinly disguised hostility from some of ‘them’, irritated that their grand plans were not always openly welcomed. Nevertheless ‘they’ now routinely consult us even if they frequently don’t accept our advice.

Since formation the Civic Trust has taken a clear stand against development at Coate and proposed a town centre university. Dream on, ‘they’ said. But this year Swindon Council and the University of the West of England are now actively pursuing the idea.

The trust has run Swindon’s Favourite Place competition and exhibition, a web-based Election Questions project with regard to the town’s development, launched www.swindoncivictrust.org and, in conjunction with The Link, started www.SwindonGallery.org.uk

We publish a quarterly newsletter and organise an events programme, bringing interesting speakers and their ideas to the town.

With the enormous amount of development planned for Swindon over the next few years, there is a vital role for a non-partisan, independent Civic Trust to help Swindonians make their voice heard in the major decisions to come.

The trust urgently needs a transfusion of new blood to keep it active and innovating. We’ll be discussing this issue at the annual meeting on 22 November, 7pm, at Heelis (the National Trust HQ). The AGM will be followed by a talk by the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust on the progress of their restoration work.

Tickets for the talk, including light refreshments, cost £4 at the door. If you’re concerned about Swindon’s future, then you need to be at the meeting. But to find out more beforehand, mail: info@swindoncivictrust.org.uk

Roger Ogle
Publisher/Editor
SwindonLink magazine
71 Basepoint, Swindon SN5 7EX
Tel: 01793 608840
www.swindonlink.com