A new theatre and entertainment venue, many fewer empty shops and high levels of investment are some of the ambitions for Swindon town centre.

Both Councillor Jim Robbins and Heidi Alexander, MP for Swindon South, say they want to get to grips with the state of the town centre- which is one of the biggest issues consistently raised by residents when talking about the town.

Cllr Robbins convened a meeting of landowners, and businesses this week, including Network Rail, the University of Bath, owners of the Brunel Centre FI REI, GCL which owns the Parade and William Arthur Property.

And Ms Alexander is in the process of setting up her Town Centre Task Force.

But both politicians who are both Labour members, say they are co-ordinated and there is no conflict between the two bodies.

Cllr Robbins said of Tuesday’s meeting: “It was a really positive meeting. We had done some work with town centre stakeholders in March, and we came back to this meeting with eight ambitions which will drive the plan

“Some of the plan we can deliver, some of it will need the private sector to deliver, but they have bought into the ambitions and we have received very good feedback, which we’ll be using as we revise the plans.”

Those ambitions are: living in the centre; a new type of town centre for all; making connections; responding to the climate emergency; responding to our layered history; a centre for learning; growing the knowledge economy; and letting creativity flourish.”

(Image: Newsquest) Cllr Robbins said: The next step will be to present the plan to cabinet, and the public, at November’s meeting, then we’ll have some more “Let’s Talk Swindon” sessions.

“We will be going to try and get large amounts of investment in the town centre and we need to have residents, landowners, businesses and all the stakeholders lined up behind the plan.”

One of the early changes is the provision of a new theatre and entertainment venue, probably near the site of the current bus station, as the current Wyvern Theatre is too small and its building is ageing.

Cllr Robbins said: “We can’t risk a town the size of Swindon not having a theatre or entertainment venue.”

He also said that Ms Alexander’s help would be invaluable: “Both Heidi and Will Stone will be able to help in getting buy-in from central government to what we are wanting to do.

“And Heidi is great at the convening and facilitating role, getting people around the table, getting everyone aligned.”

That is certainly one way that Ms Alexander  says she can help: “MPs have the ability to open doors, and you can raise publicity and awareness using Parliamentary pester power if you like.”

Ms Alexander’s town centre task force also includes landowners and businesses in the area, but when fully set up in the new year it will have a slightly different focus to the borough council’s efforts.

(Image: Aled Thomas) She said: ”A lot of what the council is looking at is long-term, infrastructure-based transformation.

“We’ll be looking at that, but there’s also a more short-term focus. I want to talk  to the owners of empty shops about how we get them back into use, temporary uses, pop-up shops. Some units might be good for other uses like sports and leisure, especially as the Oasis and other leisure centres are closed.

“An early success would be many fewer empty shops in the centre.”

Both agree that the dual approach is helpful to getting real change in the town centre. Cllr Robbins said: ”Having councillors from all parties, and the MPs all working together will be important in persuading people that Swindon is a great place to invest so we can have the town centre we all want.”