Help with grassroots creative events and shows, a plant a tree initiative and even four new park and ride facilities were all suggestions made by residents of the borough who came to hear about the borough council’s plans for its future.

Swindon Borough Council has come up with an ambitious set of plans for the town centre called the Heart of Swindon, which it hopes to put to major investors at, and after, a major launch of its aspirations at the Houses of Parliament in the new year.

But before that, council leader, Councillor Jim Robbins and the authority’s chief executive Sam Mowbray want to get both feedback and buy-in from residents.

They were hosting a Let’s Talk Swindon session at the Central Library, one of several scheduled for different venues across the borough -  and responses from the public will be used to amend the plans before they are put to possible investors.

Cllr Robbins ran through the plans which aim to regenerate the town centre by creating more housing there, and housing of differing sorts suiting differing demographics.

The plan also wants to create a learning zone, encouraging higher education institutions to have campuses in the area near the railway station, a new theatre and concert venue is part of the plans; more trees and greenery, better connectivity for walking and cycling and a recognition of and building on Swindon’s heritage and history also feature.

Cllr Robbins said: “What we know is that the council can’t do all of this. For one thing, it actually owns little of the town centre and for another, it simply doesn’t have the money needed to do it.

“We need the buy-in of landowners and businesses in the town centre and we also need the buy-in from people who live here. If we have that then  it adds to what we can take to major investors and pension companies and the like.”

After listening to Cllr Robbins attendees broke into small groups to discuss aspects of the plan.

In one group people were discussing the ‘creative centre’ proposals. One Martha said: “Help with publicising grassroots events,  it’s harder to get your event seen these days.”

Marcus added: “If the council wants to be serious about  developing a creative centre it should think about employing someone to provide support to grassroots creative organisations and events.”

The same group was also discussing a greener town centre and Marus reminded the group of an initiative in 1973 when every school child in the country was given a sapling to plant, suggesting something similar for Swindon.

Another group was discussing plans to make the town centre more vibrant, and to increase housing of different sorts in what is now largely a shopping area and very quiet after 6pm.

Referring to Cllr Robbins saying it could attract people to commute to London Sally said: “Nobody will come to move here from London unless it’s lively and a proud vibrant centre.”

In the same group, Tim said that reducing traffic in the centre would take some radical action: “If you want to do that you have to commit to it. You need a park and ride North, South, East and West, and make it expensive to take a car into the town centre, like Oxford has.

Ruth added: “Why would I sit in a traffic on the A419 breathing in all sorts of fumes if I could be in a bus from a park and ride. But it has to run all the time.”

Responses will be collated and  used to amend the Heart of Swindon plans.

More Let’s Talk Swindon events are scheduled for December.