Investors are queuing - so could the online doom-mongers tone it down a bit?
Swindon seems to be in line for significant injections of cash and commerce, not that we'd know it judging from certain members of the local commentariat
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Swindon’s reasons to be cheerful
By Barrie Hudson
Swindon Borough Council has announced that meetings and conversations have already been held with various potential investors following the recent showcase reception for the town arranged by former local MP Lord Michel Wills.
The good news was initially given to members of the Build a Better Swindon Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee earlier this week, prior to being released to the public.
That news will have come as no surprise to any observer present on the evening in Westminster. As has already been noted in The Ink, attendance by the invited representatives of a raft of companies was sufficient to leave standing room only in the largest function suite, and every one of those people was there because they regarded investing in Swindon, especially in light of the Heart of Swindon strategy, as a compelling enough proposition to warrant hearing about the opportunities at first hand.
As the local authority itself reminded the public when it announced the follow-up meetings with potential investors, more than 50 national regeneration and residential investors joined senior figures in key government agencies, including Homes England, The Department for Transport, The Department for Business & Trade, Network Rail and the Government Property Agency to hear why now is an ideal time to put their money into Swindon.
Swindon-based and national arts and cultural institutions, including a number of prospective operators for the proposed new Swindon entertainment venue, were also present at the event in London, as well as Higher and Further Education institutions already based in Swindon and those located in neighbouring cities.
There are obviously limits on what the council can announce regarding the follow-up meetings and conversations - and not just for reasons of common courtesy. Even the merest hint of a breach of commercial confidentially by any public body under such circumstances is virtually guaranteed to send potential investors zipping away like a startled school of fish.