Work on the Fleming Way improvement scheme is continuing at pace as the project nears its summer completion.

As a result, two major landowners in the town centre have thrown their support behind the transformation of the road.

FI Real Estate Management, which owns 1 Newbridge Square (formerly known as the Tri-Centre) and the Brunel Shopping Centre, and Parade Swindon Limited, which controls the area including the old Debenhams building, have highlighted the regeneration work as a key reason for investing in the area, emphasising that it will serve as a catalyst for future growth in Swindon.

Work to turn the road into a new bus interchange with an improved public realm and a green corridor is entering its final stages and, when complete, will transform the key gateway into the town centre.

Visitors via train, bus or bike will enjoy a vastly improved public realm which will enhance the surrounding environment, supporting local wildlife and make the walk between the town centre and bus and train stations more welcoming.

Once complete, the regeneration scheme will encourage further investment in the area. Plans are being developed to create a new entertainment venue once the current bus station is demolished and Zurich has already opened its new headquarters, Unity Place, next to the road.

Find out more.

Winter months are especially busy for our potholes repair team.

In Swindon, it is estimated that it would take an estimated £142m to get all the roads to a ‘like new’ condition. Limited resources mean that in 2024/25, we are spending £2m on day-to-day highways maintenance, including reactive pothole repairs (£170,000) but also all other maintenance work related to roads, pavements and cycle paths.

We are also spending £2m on proactive road resurfacing work. That includes a programme of repairs to roads across Swindon, including on the A420 and Great Western Way.

In January, 952 potholes were repaired across the Borough. Of these:

• 564 were fixed within five working days of being reported
• 517 were identified by our team of five highway inspectors who regularly check 522 miles of Swindon’s roads, all 646 miles of paths/pavements and 76 miles of cycle paths
• 435 defects reported by residents were repaired, after being assessed against a standard measurement criteria used by many local authorities

To report a pothole, please visit our website here. You can also read our updates potholes FAQs here.

It’s important that children are safe walking to and from school.

That’s why the Council will spend £128,000 to introduce safety measures at 19 schools, as part of the School Safe Environment Zone scheme this month.

Since the scheme launched in October 2020, 72 schools have already seen a range of behavioural change initiatives, engineering and enforcement measures to improve road safety.

This work, both outside and on the approach to schools, includes keep clear markings, single and double yellow lines, flashing amber school signs and five-minute walk zones preventing parking outside schools.

New measures being introduced across the Borough will include waiting restrictions, reductions in speed limits and additional cycling facilities.

Work began at the start of this week (10 Feb) and is due to finish by Sunday, 23 February, depending on weather conditions. Find out more.

We have recently been awarded £614,190 to help improve our footways and cycle paths across the Borough.

The funding, from the Government’s Active Travel England department, is part of a wider £291m for the country which aims to improve people’s health and cut carbon emissions.

In Swindon, we’re planning on using the funding to improve footways, cycle paths and pedestrian crossings close to schools. The programme of works is still being finalised so please keep an eye on our social media channels in the future.

In the meantime, there are plenty of opportunities to get active and change your travel methods. You can find out more by visiting the Swindon Travel Choices website.

A number of high-traffic roads will be improved over the next two months, as we continue our efforts to improve deteriorating road surfaces.

Various locations will benefit from the essential resurfacing before the end of March, including some roads and junctions which are used by thousands of motorists a day, including the westbound section of Thamesdown Drive between Cricklade Road and the Orbital shopping centre, and Great Western Way’s Blagrove Roundabout.

Due to the nature of the work, there is likely to be some disruption to motorists, with crews utilising some day (7.30am to 6pm) or overnight (7pm to 6am) closures.

Some of the locations being resurfaced include:

• Great Western Way (between Meads and Mannington roundabout) – night closures from 19 to 22 February
• Thamesdown Drive (westbound between Cricklade Road and Orbital Shopping Centre) – night closures from 21 to 28 February
• Cricklade Road (southbound between Thamesdown Drive and Arkwright Road) – night closures from 28 February to 4 March

• Queens Drive Roundabout – night closures from 12 March to 20 March

• Drakes Way – night closures from 20 to 29 March

Access will be maintained for local businesses and residents and diversions will be in place for other motorists where necessary.

All works should be finished by 29 March but are subject to weather conditions and unforeseen circumstances.

For more information on current and upcoming closures, check the Council’s website.

Work to upgrade traffic signals on Cricklade Road is currently taking place.

The lights and columns at the junction with Arkwright Road and Thresher Drive are in need of replacement.

Work began earlier this week (10 Feb) to allow the area to be prepared for the new lights without disruption to motorists.

The old lights will then be switched off and replaced by temporary signals on Monday (17 Feb). 

We expect the replacements to be installed and working by Friday, 21 February but this is subject to the weather and any unexpected issues.

We’d like to thank motorists, businesses and residents in the area for their patience while the work takes place.

If you have walked from the bus or train station into the town centre recently you may have seen contractors busily planting thousands of shrubs in what will become a new green corridor, replacing the former metal fence that used to be in the central reservation of Fleming Way. 

In total, 175 semi-mature trees and 23,000 shrubs will be planted along Fleming Way to transform the road and replace the unwelcoming underpass, creating a brand-new gateway into the area.

Council Leader, Councillor Jim Robbins, recently picked up his spade to support with the ongoing planting. Cllr Robbins planted a cherry blossom tree called ‘Sunset Boulevard’ at the eastern end of the revamped road, which will reopen later this year.

Congratulations to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School and Drove Primary School who have both achieved ‘Good Travel Plan’ accreditation status from Modeshift STARS! 

Both schools have worked hard to promote safe walking, scooting and cycling to school this school year, and will be presented with certificates shortly. 

It’s free for schools to sign up to Modeshift STARS, a scheme that helps schools come up with plans on how to encourage and promote sustainable travel. More details.