Will Goans get a Community Centre in Swindon?

Efforts have been made by some Goan councillors at the Swindon Borough Council to have a Goan Community Centre in Swindon and a disused nightclub has been considered for the centre.

However, the proposal has been met with two main challenges, structural and political, which have led to differences and delay in attempts to turn the old Medina Nightclub into the Goan Community Centre.

BACKGROUND

Councillor Anabelle Pegado, one of the Goan councillors involved in the project, said Goans have called Swindon home for the past 30 years, with an estimated 25,000 Goans now living in the place.

“The Hindu Community in Swindon found a great location for a community facility, and I thought ‘why not the Goan Community’,” said Pegado, according to information posted on the Facebook pages of the Swindon Conservative Councillors and Councillor Pegado.

In a series of messages on this issue between March and July, Pegado said that since October 2022, she had been working with her Ward Colleague and fellow Councillor Lourenco Fernandes, local Walcot and Central Ward candidates Agnelo Estrocio and John Barreto, and then Leader of the Council Keith Williams to find someplace suitable for the Goan community.

Repeated efforts were made to get the Council to commission and pay for a Conditions Survey before granting a 10-year lease to the Goan community to use the Medina club.

Earlier this month, Pegado submitted a Motion to the Swindon Council.

“I want the Council to request its chief executive to undertake a building condition survey of the former Medina Nightclub within 90 days if not already started. I also want the chief executive to present a report to the Council Cabinet in September on a formal process, with timescale, to bring the building back into use, including consideration of a council contribution to the refurbishment costs of the building in return for a 10-year lease,” said Pegado.

BENEFITS

Pegado said the Medina site is a prominent central location in Swindon.

“The Medina is a huge, fantastic space. Its central location in the town is ideal as there are other community facilities located close by (the Hindu Temple, central library, civic offices etc.).”

“We need some place for the Goan community to come together, hold sessions and workshops, where the elderly and young can meet, a place for events – essentially somewhere local and central that Goan culture can be celebrated. The former Medina site is perfect as it is close to car parks and bus stops, and has good communal space with adequate toilets and fire escapes. The building needs a lot of work but it’s mostly cosmetic rather than structural.”

Besides, there are other leaders who believe the Goan Community Centre at the Medina site could also be a useful location for parish activities for the Goan community.

There was a suggestion that funds could be allotted to the Goan community for the project.

“Then Cabinet Member for Finance had also agreed that funding would be made available from the savings that the Council would make with not having to pay Business Rates on the empty building, should it be occupied,” said Pegado.

“The funding will reduce the cost pressures that come with taking on a vacant building and can be used for a number of things, including initial running costs, surveys and repairs, a change of use application to the council, furniture and fittings.”

“Part of the money can also be used for Match Funding if we wanted to apply for further grants; for instance, from the National Lottery Community Fund. The Council has offered their help and expertise with this.”

“As a community, we automatically get 80% business rate relief but can also apply for the other 20% to be waived,” she added.

CHALLENGES

The Medina nightclub which was shut down since 2018 needs extensive renovation to make it reusable as the Goan Community Centre. One major issue with the Medina building is that its asbestos roof is considered a serious health hazard.

Those voicing reservations to this project have cited the huge costs needed to replace the asbestos roof and to renovate the Medina site.

There were multiple inspections at the Medina site and there was even an agreement by the then Cabinet member, Council Officers and Ward Councillors in March to undertake a Building Conditions Survey of the premises.

“This is an inspection by qualified chartered building surveyors about the physical, mechanical and electrical condition of the building,” said Pegado.

“Officers agreed to commission a Conditions Survey to find out exactly what is needed for the building and the money required for renovation before we made a final decision.”

“I am disappointed that things appeared to have stalled, but I am in contact with officers and hope to take up this building, if that’s what the Goan community wishes,” added Pegado.

There have been political challenges as well, with divisions emerging between councillors from the Conservative and Labour parties.

“Labour had made it clear during the election campaign that they don't support the Medina site as a Community Centre and, on the contrary, will simply create a delay with a review,” claimed Pegado.

Pegado said there had been some misinformation on social media and a few local politicians had dismissed the site as unsuitable.

Added Councillor Lourenco Fernandes: “The negativity from the Labour Party and their attempts to stop a community centre happening is astonishing! We have all worked so hard and held many meetings with the Cabinet member and officers.”

‘Conservative Councillors toying with sentiments of Goans in Swindon’

Two Labour Councillors at the Swindon Borough Council, Deputy Mayor Imtiyaz Shaikh and Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, have reacted sharply to claims by the Conservative Councillors at the Council regarding efforts to reuse the old Medina Club as a community centre for the Goan Community in Swindon.

“Elected representatives of all political parties owe it to their residents and communities to be open and unbiased in the way they handle matters of the ward. Imtiyaz Shaikh and I are disappointed in the way the Medina Nightclub has been used by the previous Conservative Administration to toy with the sentiments of the Goan Community in Swindon on a topic close to community dreams and aspirations,” said Amaral-Shaikh, in a statement to The Goan.

BACKGROUND

Amaral-Shaikh said there is a record with the previous GSA Committee that dates back to 2018, when Imtiyaz Shaikh made it known to them of the availability of the Medina Club.

“However, due to the Local Authority’s Town Regeneration Planning, the premises was soon taken off market and became unavailable. I’d also like to commend the efforts of the former GSA team who worked very hard to secure funding from the National Lottery, but were not successful,” said Amaral-Shaikh.

“It has been the desire of all previous GSA Committees and Community Leaders since first arriving in Swindon 30 years ago, to lay a foundation stone towards a Hall and since being elected in 2018, Imtiyaz Shaikh was the first Councillor to have had open discussions with the GSA supporting the Community Hall aspirations and I later in 2019.”

“I would also like to add that Swindon Labour Group and Councillors have always been very supportive of a Community space for the Goans in Swindon and especially finding a suitable site for the community that is safe to use and one that is sustainable in the long run of community interests.”

INVOLVEMENT

Providing some background on the support from Labour Party, Amaral-Shaikh said Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh, Councillor Jim Grant and she were regularly following up during the Covid Lockdown periods of 2020 and 2021, looking within the council’s assets portfolio to find alternative premises, with advice and support from all Labour Councillors.

“Imtiyaz and I approached the previous GSA Committee again in early 2022 to discuss the Community Centre aspirations.”

“In May 2022, Imtiyaz and I prepared and presented a Community Centre Plan to all the previous GSA Committee members, also including key community heads. This initial meeting was followed by several meetings reaching out to Lead Community members between July to August 2022.”

“In October 2022, Imtiyaz and I organised and engaged with the community at a public meeting at St Luke’s Church to understand community needs and presented a project plan to the audience on how the community could collectively self-fund the hall. Sadly, this was not supported by the Conservative councillors,” said Amaral-Shaikh.

Based on the positive public engagement, support from the Community Leaders and the previous GSA Committee, Amaral-Shaikh said the Community Centre movement was given the go-ahead.

“The plan was to fully fund the Hall by members of the community, removing the need to rely on the Local Authority that didn’t have a good selection of properties and to model our project on other communities that have built their own Centre,” Amaral-Shaikh said.

“After the public engagement, it was concluded that the GSA was to decide the next steps in forming a Core Team that represented all Leaders & Community Heads with the Goan Swindon Association running as the Parent Body. Sadly, this fantastic idea was asked to be paused.”

CHALLENGES

After taking over the Administration in May 2023, Amaral-Shaikh said the Labour Group had reviewed all finances and confirmed that the financial papers agreeing to the £100K do not exist.

“If it was agreed by the previous Conservative Cabinet Member & Administration, there would have been a documented record as a formal process reserving the amount within the budget.”

“The Head of Asset’s has also confirmed in writing that the Medina Club was never offered to any local community. Two prominent and experienced businesses have retracted their offers due to the costs involved in bringing the property back to a functioning form.”

Amaral-Shaikh informed that in June, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Imtiyaz Shaikh and she visited the Medina and were briefed that a Condition Survey for the Medina Club had never started.

“The survey could not start for the Medina Club, until the Survey from the Wyvern Theatre & Podium were completed. These two surveys have since returned in June and the Survey for the Medina Club began on July 13,” said Amaral-Shaikh.

“Don’t get me wrong, I really like the location of the Medina, however as responsible representatives, we have to also read in between the lines and look at what our challenges are. The Medina Club has no designated parking to support the premises, there is no disability access within the building and the property suffered from roof leaks, asbestos and repeated Vermin issues.”

Amaral-Shaikh stated that at the Full Council on July 13, Conservative Councillors spoke about the need to work cross party.

“At the Full Council meeting, I proposed an amendment to the Motion raised by Central Conservative Councillors. Labour agreed that the findings of the completed Conditions Survey of Medina be shared by the Cabinet member for Communities & Joint Working with the Goan Swindon Association directly.”

“This is what I believe could have worked, only if they took their own advice as both Imtiyaz, GSA, Community Leaders, public and I were excluded from the outset at all times when they visited the Medina Nightclub,” said Amaral-Shaikh.

Swindon Council begins survey on nightclub

The Swindon Borough Council discussed the issue of the Medina Club at its Full Council Meeting on July 13 and began a survey to ascertain the condition of the disused Medina Club.

The motion put forth by Conservative Councillor Anabelle Pegado came up for discussion at the council meeting and Labour Councillor Amaral-Shaikh then proposed an amendment to the Motion raised by Central Conservative Councillors.

At the Council Meeting, Conservative Councillor Anabelle Pegado asked the Cabinet Member for Communities and Joint Working Jim Grant if he would be allowing the Goan Community to adopt the building and therefore breathe new life into it and the surrounding area.

In his reply, Grant said a survey is being carried out to identify the cost of works needed to make the former Medina nightclub suitable for use. He added that once the condition information is available it would enable the future of the building to be fully considered.

Pegado expressed happiness that the investigations into the use of the Medina for the Goan Community are continuing and said she hoped Grant would accept her offer to remain involved and see this project to fruition.

Labour Councillor Adorabelle said at the Full Council meeting on July 13, she proposed an amendment to the Motion raised by Central Conservative Councillors.

“Labour agreed that the findings of the completed Conditions Survey of Medina be shared by the Cabinet member for Communities & Joint Working with the Goan Swindon Association directly,” said Amaral-Shaikh.

Despite differences, Labour, Conservative Goan councillors are hopeful, want unity

Despite their differences, both the Conservative and Labour Councillors have expressed hope that the Goan community would be united and would work together to establish a Goan Community Centre in the heart of Swindon.

Conservative candidate Agnelo Estrocio admitted a lot of work is needed to make the Medina site suitable for diverse use by the Goan Community.

“I am totally committed to working with the Council and seeing if we can make this happen for everyone’s benefit,” said Estrocio.

Conservative Councillor Lourenco Fernandes said if the Conditions Survey indicates the site is feasible, they are all committed to make it a reality.

Added Conservative Councillor Anabelle Pegado: “There is no question that the site will be brought back into use, given the vision and interest the Goan community has shown in the opportunities the building offers.”

“The prospect of finally having a Goan Community Centre in the heart of Swindon is a massively positive step for us. We are convinced our community can come together and make it happen,” said Pegado.

Labour Councillor Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh also voiced similar views about a community centre.

“We are a hard-working community, caring by nature and take pride in the fruits of our hard work, always helpful to those around us and I’m sure that we all want to work towards a central place to commune and share our heritage and culture. The time is now, to stand as a community and work together to find a way forward,” she added.