Fleming Way has been open to pedestrians for the past week after site fencing was removed last Friday (15 Aug).

Buses will begin using the site a week on Sunday (31 Aug) to allow the finishing touches to be made to the scheme and for bus drivers to get used to the road.

The upgrade of Fleming Way means visitors arriving to the town centre will benefit from a vastly-improved public realm, bigger bus shelters with better wheelchair access, new dedicated cycle lanes and new public toilets.

More than 30 local and regional bus routes will use the new facility, with National Express routes using a new dedicated pick-up and drop-off point.

Barnes Coaches has its own dedicated bus stop on Princes Street, which has three car parks in close proximity making it easier for coach users to be dropped off and picked up. We will review if additional services can be accommodated on Fleming Way over the coming months.

The Summer at the Green events, located at Wharf Green in the town centre, will come to an end this bank holiday weekend (23 to 25 Aug).

The weekend will feature a pop-up planetarium, with a hands-on meteorite artefact, a space suit dress-up, a photo area and the opportunity to experience space in virtual reality.

On Monday (25 Aug), a grand finale will feature vibrant musical performances and the hunt to find Swindon’s next town crier alongside face painting and other activities.

The Council created the series of free events throughout the summer, with support from local community groups, businesses and organisations.

A reduced number of crews will be out on Monday (25 Aug), which will cause some delays across our waste collection services, including garden waste collections which will not be picked up on the day.

If you were due to have your waste or recycling collected and it has not been picked up, please leave it out for collection and we will collect it as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience.

A new Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is now in effect in Swindon town centre and Broadgreen, aimed at cracking down on anti-social behaviour and improving public safety.

The PSPO allows officers to challenge and fine those engaging in disruptive or dangerous behaviour, including street drinking and the use of e-scooters.

On-the-spot fines of up to £100 will be issued, with repeat offences leading to prosecution and fines of up to £1,000.

Three brand-new accessible bungalows in Ashley Close, Walcot, are now ready for residents.

Developed to meet the growing need for affordable and adaptable homes, they feature step-free interiors, wider doorways, wet rooms, adjustable-height kitchen counters, private gardens and off-road parking. Solar panels and air source heat pumps also help keep running costs low.

Amber and her partner Claire, were among the first to move in with their young children. They had struggled in their previous home as their son’s Duchenne muscular dystrophy made stairs and narrow rooms increasingly unsafe. Amber said: “This bungalow has taken so much stress away from us… to help our son live the best life he can.” 

With a safe, future-proofed space to grow up in, their son can enjoy greater independence while his parents have peace of mind.

Thanks to your reports, our team removed 63 abandoned vehicles in Swindon between January and June this year.

Abandoned vehicles cause safety and environmental risks, so we follow a standard process to identify and remove them. This includes:

• inspecting the vehicle and starting investigations within two working days of it being reported online
• issuing a notice on the vehicle (it is a legal requirement to give the owner a 15-day notice to remove it)
• issuing a 24-hour removal notice and then arranging for its removal and disposal if the owner doesn’t come forward
• destroying the vehicle at an authorised facility

We only remove vehicles that have been reported to us by residents online and make no profit from the process.

From inspiring personal journeys at Kingsdown School, like Tegen’s path to becoming a future PE teacher, to record-breaking achievements at The Deanery and top results at St Joseph’s, hard work, resilience and determination has truly paid off.

This summer, more than 2,500 students completed their GCSE studies in Swindon. The Borough’s students recorded a 64.2 per cent pass rate (grades 9 to 4) for both English and Maths. The proportion of students achieving a strong pass in English and Maths (grade 9 to 5) stood at 44.1 per cent.

Pictured is Councillor Adorabelle Amaral Shaikh, Cabinet Member for Education, who met students, staff and proud families at both The Deanery CofE Academy and Kingsdown School yesterday.

This winter, if you receive a means-tested benefit like Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit, you could be eligible for a £150 discount on your electricity bill automatically applied under the expanded Warm Home Discount.

There’s no need to apply, just make sure the eligible person is named on the electricity bill by this Sunday (24 Aug). This is especially important if you’ve recently moved or changed supplier.

Last winter, 96 per cent of eligible households received the discount automatically, making it the quickest and easiest way to get support. Also, more than six million households are expected to benefit this year, including 900,000 more families with children.

More than 900 Swindon households have already registered an interest in the latest round of Solar Together, which offers residents a hassle-free way to begin powering their home through renewable energy. 

Installing solar panels lets you use free, renewable, low carbon electricity. The prices for this year start at £1,872 for a four-panel system which includes solar panels, inverter and mounting system with full installation, 10-year warranties and online monitoring. There’s also no VAT to pay on residential installations.