The Swindon Civic Trust is a voluntary organisation and registered charity established in
Swindon
Swindon () is a town in Wiltshire, England. At the time of the 2021 Census the population of the built-up area was 183,638, making it the largest settlement in the county. Located at the northeastern edge of the South West England region, Swi ...
,
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
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.
History
The Trust 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 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.
Campaigns
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
Swindon Borough Council is the local authority of the Borough of Swindon in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire, England. It was founded in 1974 as Thamesdown Borough Council, and was a lower-tier district council until 1997. In 1997 it was re ...
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 plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving a ...
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
The Goddard family were a prominent landed gentry, landed family chiefly living in the northern regions of the English counties of Wiltshire and Hampshire and the western part of Berkshire, between the Tudor period and the early 20th century.
...
) 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 Park 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 University of Bath is a public research university in Bath, England. Bath received its royal charter in 1966 as Bath University of Technology, along with a number of other institutions following the Robbins Report. Like the University ...
.
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 Museum in the organisation of Brunel 200, the local and national celebration of
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel ( ; 9 April 1806 – 15 September 1859) was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who is considered "one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history", "one of the 19th-century engi ...
'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
The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a History of rail transport in Great Britain, British railway company that linked London with the southwest, west and West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, ...
and also the siting of the
GWR Works in the town.
Notes
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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 Park
2001 establishments in England
Organisations based in Swindon
Charities based in Wiltshire
Heritage organisations in England
Civic societies in the United Kingdom