How empty buildings are a plague on Swindon's streets
What's to be done about the town's abandoned buildings
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Where the streets have no soul
Walking through Swindon’s town centre can be a bit post-apocalyptic at times, especially with the increasing number of empty premises that are blighting our streets. But a lot of the problems stem from the fact that the buildings are in the hands of private landlords who are harder to track down than Harrison Ford being chased by Tommy Lee Jones. So these buildings stand empty for years on end.
One case in point is the now empty Morrisons standing at Regent Circus, which has been empty since 2019. According to the council Morrisons are still paying the landlord the rent for the building until their lease runs out, meaning there’s no need for a new tenant to be found. In the meantime it’s just another failure blighting the once buzzing centre.
This is one particular subject that local history writer and Federation of Small Businesses representative Angela Atkinson feels very strongly about, and is irked by three town centre buildings in particular.
By Angela Atkinson
Right then. This piece is somewhat a deviation from my general heritage focus. But not entirely. Because two out of three of the reasons I’m feeling irked are buildings that most definitely count as heritage. I’m talking about:
1. The building that was until recently a Wetherspoons but which, in its day was a fine YMCA building.
2. A could-be-lovely white, Art Deco, curved corner building that once housed Burton’s.
Both on Fleet Street/bottom end of Bridge Street.
I mention both of these buildings in my Born Again Swindonian’s guide book. Because they’re both, even in their dilapidated state, worth giving more than a passing glance. And with the Burton building it’s not only a case of looking up but looking down. Because at floor level, either side of a doorway are brown polished plaques commemorating the opening of the store by Montague Burton’s children in the 1930s. I wonder how many people notice them?
Wharf Green
Then, at the other end of town, I’m vexed by the tented market. Why? Because, a good six years ago, viable businesses were turfed out to make way for development that never happened. Since then it’s sat there getting covered in graffiti. It’s now a nasty stain on that corner of the town and is generally ghettoising Wharf Green.
One problem here is that the properties in question are owned by landlords doing their best impression of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Though I question how hard the previous administration tried to contact them. Drawing on personal experience, much shrugging of shoulders wouldn’t surprise me.