AN URGENT public meeting is to be held tomorrow on possible uses for the Locarno following a controversial application to knock it down.

Landowner Gael Mackenzie has recently submitted an application to Swindon Council, through site developer Steve Rosier, asking permission to demolish the listed building.

They have also resubmitted a proposal to turn it into a 117-room hotel. This plan was rejected by the council in February last year.

Now Swindon Civic Voice, a charity which aims to improve the Swindon environment, is holding a meeting to gauge public opinion on the two proposals, and on the group’s own ideas for the building.

Chairman Lisa Hawkes said: “We have made comments on the previous applications, but with this one, because it’s to demolish one of Swindon’s few remaining landmark buildings, we feel it was important to have an urgent meeting.

“It’s to provide information and to get information from the local residents. The biggest point of this meeting is to demonstrate there’s a happy medium.

“It doesn’t have to be a seven-storey overbearing hotel that’s going to impact on the residents there, or it doesn’t have to be demolished.”

During the first 30 minutes of the meeting, residents will be able to inspect the two live planning applications, as well as the charity’s own ideas. Civic Voice is suggesting that the building could house a mix of several facilities, including a small swimming pool, dance hall, bowling alley and meeting rooms.

There will then be presentation on the building’s history by Dick Millard, a presentation from Dan Rose, the chairman of the Mechanics’ Institution Trust, and a summary with an open discussion.

Lisa hopes that, if there is enough feedback and public support, the charity could work up, and gain listed building consent for, an alternative scheme.

The meeting comes after the Adver published photographs showing the crumbling state of the inside of the Locarno.

Lisa said: “Because I’ve seen the inside of the Mechanics’ I was not surprised. It was more or less what I expected but I think it’s dire it’s been let to get into that situation.”

Coun Dale Heenan, the chairman of Swindon Council’s planning committee, said the developer and officers were working up a design brief for the Locarno, which will guide what uses and architectural style are acceptable and unacceptable when the committee considers applications.

He said: “It gives reassurance to the developers about a planning application they may submit in the future, but it also shows and demonstrates to residents that serious action is taking place.”

The meeting takes place at Swindon Moose Centre, from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. A framed 1965 poster publicising a gig at the Locarno will be raffled in aid of Civic Voice at 3.30pm.

Developer Mr Rosier said: “We had a couple of good meetings last week and I think we’ve struck on a few new ideas we’re now exploring over the next couple of weeks and developing these ideas up further.

“And I think everybody is very focused on ‘let’s find a way to save the Locarno’ and create a good development in that area of Old Town that’s beneficial for Old Town.”