Swindon Advertiser Weekly Article - 28th November

Last week, my wife Jo and I joined the hundreds of people who had gathered at Wharf Green in the town centre to celebrate the Swindon Christmas light switch on. We were entertained by talented youngsters from Swindon Dance, an aerial hoop performance and of course, the act of the evening - Britain's Got Talent winners, Ashleigh and Pudsey.

Town centre management firm, InSwindon, did a fantastic job of organising the evening and it was great to see the town centre lit up in preparation for the festive period. Speaking to local retailers, they are all set to entice shoppers into their stores for what they hope will be a very prosperous month.

Next Saturday is Small Business Saturday and as local residents we should consider all of the retailers and shops across Swindon when it comes to purchasing all of our Christmas shopping. It is important that we support our local economy; and here in Swindon we are spoilt for choice. Just last month we saw the opening of the new £35 million extension to the Outlet Village, as well as looking forward to the return of Swindon’s Festive Market in the town centre.

With further planned investment into town centre regeneration and other projects, Swindon is certainly on the up. Morrisons is already open at Regents Circus and early next year restaurants such as Nando’s and Prezzo, as well as a new Cineworld Cinema will open. We are seeing a rejuvenation in retail and leisure facilities across our town.

In the next few years the current bus station will be torn down to be replaced with a new bus exchange, apartments, an hotel, restaurants & public square at the Kimmerfields development. This £350 million total investment is part of the Council’s long-term strategy to deliver proper town centre regeneration. This is in addition to the £1.75 million upgrade into the train station which has seen a new forecourt for travellers.

Outside of the town centre, I have been holding regular meetings with British Land, owners of the Orbital Shopping Park, who are committed to a multi-million pound refurbishment of the site to increase enjoyment for visitors, and are hoping to welcome further high-end retailers onto the site.

So whilst everybody is busy purchasing presents for their loved ones, I hope that people can recognise the importance of shopping locally. With new shops, restaurants, leisure activities and improved transport facilities; our town centre is seeing proper investment, and other parts of our town are attracting more businesses which will create future jobs for residents. When it comes to getting ready for Christmas or shopping more generally, Swindon is and certainly will be, the place to be!