IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Eastern Avenue, SWINDON, SN3 1AE

The checkpoint had been set up in the bus lane. The image was obtained shortly after midday and the group of young people to the right of the image are from a nearby tertiary college. I don't normally block out number plates but I have in this case since I don't want to be accused of interfering with the due process of the law.

A closer look at the police checkpoint. A policeman is speaking to the passenger in the Renault while two, probably non-Police, officials stand by. I don't normally block out number plates but I have in this case since I don't want to be accused of interfering with the due process of the law.

Out of shot to the left was an unmarked Transit that unmistakably was a camera van, probably containing number plate recognition equipment. It appears to be a joint operation with another agency since the two officials stood by the Renault Clio were wearing unmarked high-visibility jackets.

As recently as four years ago a public house stood on the site at centre right http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2602009 By March 2012 the site had been cleared http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2827374 Now a new building has been constructed. Future occupiers will include a Cooperative shop, a Subway outlet and a Barnardo's charity shop. More below

This affords a closer look at the new development on the old Bulldog site seen here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4654255 More below...

Ordnance Survey cut mark benchmark described on the Bench Mark Database at http://www.bench-marks.org.uk/bm37323

This is a slighter closer view of the doomed pub to the one seen here Image There is perhaps a clue to one of the reasons why pubs like this are closing down to be seen on the wall of the petrol station at the left. From the pages of the local newspaper, the Swindon Advertiser, dated 23 August 2011: "THE BULLDOG pub in Walcot is a big step closer to being demolished after a deal was signed between Swindon Council and its owner. The property, in Queen’s Drive, needs to be bought and bulldozed as a key part of the council’s planned regeneration of Sussex Square, which could include a supermarket. And now Swindon Council has confirmed that it has agreed a deal with brewery Greene King to purchase the building and associated land, including the car park. A Swindon Council spokesman said: “A deal has been signed with Greene King but it’s not yet finalised because there’s one or two legal things yet to be delivered. “We have agreed what we are going to do but there are still some minor legal things to be sorted out before we can get the building.” He added that there was not yet a timetable for acquiring the pub and no formal plans for the regeneration, although one of the options for the Bulldog site is a supermarket. The regeneration plans came to light when resident Ted Ludford put in a Freedom of Information request to the Swindon Council after hearing rumours about the future of the pub and getting no response from Greene King. The FOI confirmed that the council was negotiating the acquisition of the Bulldog as part of the site assembly process in connection with possible redevelopment of the area. Mr Ludford, who has owned the Dream Recording and Rehearsal Studios for seven years, was interested in the future of the pub as his store is part of the same building and is leased by Greene King. Peter Mallinson, who was a ward councillor for Walcot for six years and is chairman of the Walcot Community Shop in Sussex Square, supports the planned demolition. He said: “Taken in relation to what’s planned, I think the council is justified in doing it. “It’s not exactly a thriving pub. It has its regular people who use it in east Walcot, but it’s needed to make the site viable for regeneration.” A spokeswoman for Greene King said that the contracts have been exchanged with the council and the pub will close, but she could not confirm the exact date yesterday." Update March 2012: Not there now Image NOTE. This image has a detailed ‘shared description’ which you won’t see by viewing this image on a slideshow. To read it click on the image.

Compare with this one from a few months ago Image and it will be seen that the 1960s vintage pub has been erased from the face of the earth. I remember the pub with a few fond memories. Back in that decade friends and I from the local grammar (later comprehensive) school would occasionally have a few beers during lunch breaks. Alas, the school went the same way as the pub some time ago Image