Club make their pitch (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Club make their pitch

SWINDON Town have unveiled how they hope their future home will look and the club believe it could become a reality within three years.

The plans show that the 22,000 all-seater stadium is only one part of an extensive sports village which could house an Olympic-sized swimming pool, two rugby pitches, a cricket ground, restaurants and hotels.

According to current proposals, the sports village will be situated along Mead Way between Sparcells and Shaw and Nine Elms.

A three-dimensional model of the sports village will be on show to the public later this month in Sparcells and at the County Ground.

The public consultation period will begin over the next few weeks with the developers and the club holding meetings for the public to air their views.

Times and dates for these meetings have yet to be announced, but will be arranged imminently.

Last week, the club and the developer, St Modwen Properties, held a presentation for councillors to view the plans and to voice their initial concerns.

Reactions to the proposals were mixed with councillors from Shaw condemning them as outrageous but others welcoming them as exciting and inspirational.

Coun Michael Dickinson (Lib Dem, Central) said: "I'm really enthusiastic about the initial plans, but whether they become a reality will depend upon the hard work of the partnership between the club, the developer and the council."

Indeed, if these plans do go ahead, they could put Swindon on the sporting map providing first-class facilities for elite and grass roots-level athletes in a number of sports.

Leader of the council Mike Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) thinks that the sports village is an exciting concept, but believes there are hurdles to overcome first.

He said: "If these plans do go ahead, they would make Swindon a sub-regional sports centre.

"But there are a lot of negotiations that need to take place between the club, the council and the developer before anything can happen.

"I also encourage the public to take part in the consultation period so that everyone's views are heard.

"The council has a number of issues to address, both as the property owner of Shaw tip and the County Ground, and as a planning and highways authority."

The club and the developer hope to enter a planning application by early summer and be granted planning approval by the end of the year.