Park prepares for a super summer

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Monday 21st Feb 2005.

MORE work is planned for an historic Swindon park after a further injection of cash.

The aim is to attract families back to Faringdon Road Park and to keep criminals away.

The park was a place where people feared to go because of crime, vandalism and violence.

But this is all changing thanks to £90,000 of Swindon Council funding and now £60,000 of National Lottery cash.

Over the next couple of months work will begin on a new children's play area and flower beds will be planted.

A plan has also been launched to rename it Great Western Park in honour of its origins.

Martha Parry, 58, chairman of the Great Western Railway Park Committee, which is overseeing the work, said new benches had already been put in, signs had gone up and lockable gates installed to prevent vandals entering the toilets at night.

She is confident that any new features, including work to complete a path, will boost the park's image.

"The park was deteriorating as there was a lot of anti social behaviour going on," she said.

"There was public outcry as it is in a historic conservation area. Use prevents abuse and once it is finished it will be somewhere people will want to go.

"It will be a complete turnaround. It is a reflective place and will be lovely when the sun is shining."

Over the years Swindon's first public park in the heart of the railway community gained a reputation for being a no-go area. What should have been a recreation area for the whole community became a haunt for yobs, drug dealers and sex attackers.

In 2001, residents reclaimed the Victorian park and former councillor John Taylor spearheaded a campaign to restore the area to its former glory.

His efforts, backed by support from residents, helped to secure £45,000 each year from Swindon Council's capital budget for two years.

A working party was set up to decide how to spend the money and the fruits of members' labours are now on display.

For more than 70 years, until the mid 1800s, the park hosted the town's largest annual gathering, The GWR Children's or Juvenile Fete.

This was revived in 2003 and is due to be held again this summer.

Mrs Parry is also hoping other events will be held such as live concerts.

But to ensure a bright future she is appealing for more people to join the committee.

"When it's all finished the park will once again be a prime park in Swindon," she said. "But we want more people to help out by joining us."

Ben Payne

Archive Home