Cavendish Square update: community campaigning gets results

As you will no doubt be aware the Reuben George Hall has now been opened, as an office for Council staff, and the old Co-op site has been covered in tarmac. You will probably agree that it’s a big improvement on a boarded up building and what looked like a derelict building site.

How did this come about? Apparently, some people are saying that the Council decided to tarmac the site because they were opening up the Reuben George. This isn’t true. The fact is that the changes are the result of a community campaign, initiated by Parks & East Walcot Forum, and supported by SWAP, and the local Councillors. If we had not campaigned for something to be done, then the old Co-op site would probably have remained as it was for years more.

Call made to fix up concrete eyesore

Monday 22nd November 2010

By David Wiles, Swindon Advertiser

NEARLY 500 people have so far signed a petition calling for an ugly concrete space at Cavendish Square to be properly surfaced.

The concrete patch – the former site of the Co-op – was meant to be developed with new retail units as part of the centre’s regeneration but has remained empty due to a lack of interest from potential tenants.

Shops under threat?

Aside from the environmental state of Cavendish Square one of the problems with the “regeneration” relates to the shops. Rents set by the ‘developer’ are exorbitant. So much so that already two tenants have left because they could not make a living. And now we are in danger of losing the Cafe which serves as a kind of social centre where local people meet have have a chat.

Cavendish Square Petition

Media Release – Parks & East Walcot Forum

November 17^th 2010

Cavendish Square Petition

The “regeneration” of Cavendish Square was described by the Council as “a fantastic project to transform Cavendish Square”. It would “revamp community facilities creating a fantastic place to live, play and shop”.

What they promised and what we got

See in the poster below the artists impression of the new Cavendish Square and the reality today.

caviposter.jpg

“Regeneration” of Cavendish Square

You may have read in the Swindon Advertiser about the wonderful “regeneration” of Cavendish Square, the shopping centre in Whitbourne Avenue, on Parks. But then again, look at the picture on the top of the page. This website has been launched by Parks & East Walcot Forum, the local community group. You can read about what local people were promised, and see what we got.

We have launched a petition aimed at ending the disgraceful state of Cavendish Square. You can download a petition and help us out by getting people to sign it.