Swindon pilot for safety project (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Swindon pilot for safety project

2:22pm Wednesday 14th February 2007 in Swindon By Raeanne Nightingale

A charity has earmarked an area of Swindon to act as a pilot for a new safety project.

The Civic Trust's NightVision scheme aims to improve town and city centres at night and will concentrate on the Fleet Street and John Street area, where problems of litter, anti-social behaviour and binge drinking are causing concern.

The NightVision team will be working with Swindon Borough Council and local businesses to implement an action plan to address the immediate problems of the area, to improve safety and make it a more pleasant place to visit at night.

The team will also explore ideas to strengthen the appeal of the area to a wider section of the community, such as families and office employees meeting for a drink after work.

Paul Davies, head of Policy and Development at the Civic Trust, said: "This area of Swindon is typical of many of Britain's town centres in that it suffers from a range of management problems.

"Nationally, many people feel excluded from their town centres at night and important cultural and economic opportunities are missed.

"There is a danger that town centres can become drinking “ghettos”, dominated by a youth-orientated drinking monoculture. "

Paul Davies

"There is a danger that town centres can become drinking "ghettos", dominated by a youth-orientated drinking monoculture.

"We look forward to working with Swindon Borough Council to address this threat and to develop the full potential of the area."

Councillor Steve Wakefield, chair of Licensing at Swindon Borough Council, added: "The extent of our determination to raise standards has already been demonstrated by our decision to revoke the licence held by a bar in the town centre.

"A range of new measures sponsored by the newly created Business Improvement District will build on the steps which we have already taken.

"The future for Swindon is very exciting. I am confident that our plans to reconstruct almost everything now standing in the central area according to a bold vision will make us the envy of cities up and down the country.

"I warmly welcome the partnership with the Civic Trust, which will help us to communicate our example to others."