£45m Swindon entertainment venue in doubt after council leadership change
A £45m purpose-built entertainment venue in Swindon town centre may not go ahead following a change in council leadership.
Plans for the 2,000-capacity venue on the town’s former bus station site were announced earlier this year after the Government committed £20m towards the project.
But the minority Conservative administration, which took control of Swindon Borough Council in May, has questioned whether the council can afford to borrow its £20m share.
Gary Sumner, leader of the Conservative group, said: “Any decision to borrow £20m at a time when the council finances are perilous would be a really, really brave decision.”
He added: “I’m not willing to look residents of Swindon, who pay their council tax, in the face and say ‘that’s fine, I’m going to write a cheque for £20m for this new entertainment venue and I do appreciate we’re cutting back on your services’.”
The council was given permission by the Government earlier this year to sell assets to plug a predicted £22m black hole in next year’s budget.
Sumner also questioned whether a new venue would be successful, saying: “In a cost of living crisis, the idea people are going to splurge £50 on a ticket to watch a show is challenging.”
The proposed venue would replace the ageing Wyvern Theatre and have double its capacity.
Jim Robbins, leader of the previous Labour administration, said: “Swindon deserves a modern, ambitious entertainment venue in the heart of our town.
“We must seize the opportunity created by the support from the Labour Government to kickstart town centre investment.
“That funding is specifically intended to drive growth and regeneration — it cannot simply be redirected to other council pressures.”
The plans were announced days before the local elections, when Labour lost its majority on the council.
At the time, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said investing in the venue would provide jobs and boost the economy in Swindon.
Sumner said the cabinet was given the go ahead to “work up the business case” for the development and added: “I’m absolutely not writing it off”.
Swindon is bidding to be City of Culture 2029.
