Great Western Coffee Shop

THE underpass linking Swindon town centre to the outlet village has been closed.

The Bristol Street tunnel is owned by Churchward PLC, which was served with a winding up order on 13 June. But they were awaiting further details from PwC (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers) who have been appointed as special managers to assist in the dealings with the company.

The sudden closure has left pedestrians having to find an alternative route that doesn’t involve using the tunnel, which has added an increased time to people’s journeys.Users of the underpass has been in contact with the Adver to express their concerns.

Roshni Kerai explained: This seems such a shame, as it's an important transport link for many people to the train station and town centre.”

Des Morgan, of Haydon Wick, said: “It’s going to destroy that route between the town centre and the outlet.”

Adam Philips said: “This underpass is used by so many people a day and now it has been shut without any notice, disrupting everyone’s commute. They need to reopen it as soon as possible.”

The Adver understands that Swindon Borough Council are trying to come to an agreement with the owners to reopen it for public use.

Churchward PLC was part of Carillion, and a winding up order was granted to the Official Receiver in June. So what has happened now? All it seems to have done was own and manage property, so I guess this property has been sold. But to whom?

Or will be sold

Ah this is frustrating as I don’t really know my way around Swindon out of the main centre. Is this the underpass where there is a little security shed at the end?

With the underpass closed it almost makes public transport the practical alternative to get to the outlet centre and museum.  However the road outside the railway station is a one way street heading the wrong way so you need to know to walk to the bus station/Fleming Way or Catherine Street by the railway village to get one going the right way.

The walk along Rodbourne Road under the bridges is not particularly welcoming.  The footway under the bridges is narrow and dark and not particularly easy if you have a pram/pushchair.

I am not sure how easy it is to exit the station to the north.  Signs suggest you have to work or have an invitation to the Research Councils in Polaris House to get out that way.

However if the North exit does provide a reasonable route to the Outlet Centre and Steam, the can't someone get agreement with the research councils for public use as an interim?

Tarmac/Carillion – estates management of Heron Quays, London; development and letting of the Churchward site in Swindon, including the letting of the Railway Heritage Museum; the sale of land at Atlantic Wharf, Cardiff for housing and development of a hotel

I'm beginning to suspect that some oversmart liquidator has spotted that the tunnel owned separately could be worth a lot, because it could hold the occupiers to a large ransom for access. After all, their job is to sell off the bits for as much as they can get.

Luckily, I don’t have to use the tunnel but lots of work colleagues have been affected by it adding 15 mins to their journey times on foot. I was also told the pavement going under the bridges on Rodbourne Road was really clogged with people this morning. Hope it’s resolved soon.