IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Whitehill Way, SWINDON, SN5 7DN

The statue commemorates the late lamented Swindon-born actress who was born in Old Town, Swindon and who lived here in her early years http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/675525

The statue is to be found outside the multiplex cinema at the leisure complex. It dates from the 1990s as I recollect. Diana Dors was born in Swindon in 1931 and is still remembered with some affection 24 years after her premature death. More about her here http://www.swindonweb.com/index.asp?m=8&s=9&ss=220

After driving around the featureless suburbs of Swindon, the photographer finally found this statue of one of Swindon's most famous former inhabitants outside a leisure complex. Diana was born Diana Mary Fluck in 1931 in Old Town and lived much of her early years in the Hythe Road and Marlborough Road areas. She did have a colourful reputation as a teenager in and around the Locarno Ballroom once housed within the now derelict Corn Exchange building in the Square in Old Town, but in later life became a respected and talented actress dying at the early age of 52. It seems a pity that this statue is not standing in Old Town's Square outside a [one day] refurbished Corn Exchange.

As well as an hotel the park includes a ten-pin bowling facility, upper left of the image, and a multiscreen cinema to the right. There is also a pizzeria and a nightclub.

Shaw Ridge is a leisure park including an hotel, pictured here, restaurant, ten-pin bowling and a multiplex cinema.

The entrance drive to the 'village' complex which comprises a De Vere hotel linked to a cinema and ten pin bowling alley and associated car parking spaces. The hotel houses an Italian themed restaurant and a (very expensive) pub. De Vere were until recently called 'The Alternative Hotels Group' but hey, what's in a name? Nice rooms, great staff, good conference facilities and all you might hope for in a hotel.

As Swindon expanded rapidly in the 1970's and 1980's this was the sort of building that the town wanted; a big architectural statement, no doubt nominated and maybe even winning design awards and plaudits but it has, I understand, been plagued with some of the issues that Councils dread - Legionella in the water supply system, floods, electrical failures related to floods and an on-going maintenance and building expenses bill far beyond what anyone envisaged when beaming at architects plans in halcyon days long ago. Plus, to a visitor at least, it isn't immediately obvious where the entrance door is. I virtually circumnavigated it before finding it. It's a leisure centre (housing 'the biggest indoor climbing-wall in Wiltshire'), ice rink (home to Swindon Wildcats ice hockey team), library (scarlet carpet tiles!) and community centre. Yes, it does look like a waste incinerating facility, dockside warehouse or a bus depot maybe.