Will building be at heart of town?

The Mechanics' Institute in Emlyn Square has been derelict ever since entrepreneur Mathew Singh bought it three years ago.

It sits boarded up after Mr Singh withdrew an application to turn the building into a hotel, homes and a health club.

But Mr Singh, Swindon South MP Anne Snelgrove, Swindon Council, English Heritage and the New Mechanics' Institution Preservation Trust are set to sit down on Friday to try and thrash out a new plan for the building, which was recently granted listed status.

And that has left trust co-ordinator Martha Parry hopeful that the former railway building may be given back to the people of Swindon.

"There has always been a way forward," said Mrs Parry. "But it has never been realistic to think you can make commercial profits from a building which was never a commercial property.

"We are not against Mr Singh. He took advantage of what he thought was a good business opportunity, but we are almost three years down the line and nothing has happened.

"The Mechanics' used to be the beating heart of Swindon and we want to make it a facility both for the past and the future.

"There are two options. Either the Government or the council makes a bid for a compulsory purchase order or Mr Singh sells it for a realistic price.

"But I hope this meeting is a turning point."

Mrs Snelgrove was similarly upbeat about Friday's meeting and said she hoped it would lead to a solution for the Mechanics'.

The trust thinks its plans will benefit more people in Swindon than previous applications.

The plans include offices for community groups, a concourse to encourage people to walk through, a caf, a cinema, shops, conference facilities, a youth venue, a restaurant and a theatre.

The trust is also fighting against plans by Swindon Council to turn the former Great Western Railway Museum into an advice centre.

The former museum is currently being run by the trust and is used by a number of community organisations.

Mr Singh refused to comment.