A £60,000 scheme could spruce up a “dull and drab” spot in the town centre.

Plans are taking shape for the small-scale regeneration project around the Wyvern Theatre, and could begin in June.

It would see plants and stones dotted around the bleak spot, and the bandstand transformed into “a beautiful green pagoda”, says Mike Pringle from Forward Swindon, who is helping draw up plans.

In a presentation at the council’s economics committee he revealed a public poll showed residents overwhelmingly see the council-run area as “dull and drab” - and hardly any have a good word to say about it.

He said: “It’s a fairly dark and dismal place.

“A lot of stuff needs to be done. This is only a temporary measure to try and lift it.”

Swindon Council is to inject £25,000 into the project, with Marks & Spencer paying £25,000 and £10,000 coming from Great Western Enterprises.

Ultimately, the council wants the area to be part of the “cultural quarter” of the town centre redevelopment.

The improvements are intended as a stop-gap measure, because the cash-strapped council believes there is unlikely to be any major work carried out therein the near future.