Latest news with #FayHoward
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Ribbon cut on Swindon's Fleming Way transport hub
The ribbon has been cut on a £33m transformation of a transport hub, which closed a major junction for three-and-a-half is expected that buses will run from Fleming Way in Swindon from 31 August, a year later than hoped, and pedestrians will be able to use the area as soon as fencing is Borough Council hopes the hub will be the first step in regenerating the much-criticised town changes have been designed to create a better space for buses, cycling and walking, with the old bus station being demolished. The hub was opened by Swindon South MP Heidi Alexander, Swindon's mayor, Fay Howard and cabinet member for transport, Chris are new bus shelters with better accessibility, wireless charging, digital screens and solar panels. Lots of greenery has been planted too - more than 181 trees, and 23,000 plants and cycle lanes also connect the town's two main cycle money came from the government's Future High Streets Fund, the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership's Local Growth Fund and Swindon Borough Council. Ms Alexander, MP for Swindon South, said: "As a born-and-bred Swindon girl, nothing gives me more pride than opening brand-new public transport infrastructure in the heart of our town."Mr Watts said it was a "hugely complex and challenging scheme to deliver" but thanked those who worked on said as well as removing the "run-down" bus station, the council would now like to build a new entertainment venue next to Fleming Way. Stagecoach West said it will operate almost 1,000 journeys a week from the new hub."The new interchange at Fleming Way will provide customers with state-of-the-art journey planning, which will be transformational for them," Chris Hanson from the company Murray, managing director of Swindon's Bus Company, said: "This is a spectacular transformation. The location promises to be one of the region's major transport hubs, and we are excited to be operating our services here." The council said the improvements could boost the local economy by £28m over the next 20 said it has already attracted private investment to the area, including FI Real Estate Management spending £8.5m on its offices also said the changes encouraged it to keep its headquarters in the town.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Swindon museum favourite returns after restoration
Young people have helped bring a Swindon museum favourite back to life. The Swindon Gharial has been restored and given "pride of place" at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. The crocodilian sculpture was a feature in the museum's former location on Bath Road before it closed in 2021. Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Fay Howard, attended the reopening of the museum in its new location where she thanked the people who helped restore the Gharial. Read more: Man's ear ripped off in 'horror movie' XL Bully attack She said: "It was an absolute pleasure on Thursday to thank the incredible young curators who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring our beloved Swindon Gharial back to the Swindon Museum and Art Swindon collection. "Our croc now has pride of place in the museum and looks very happy to be back home." As well as restoring the sculpture, the curators also chose other exhibits and implemented QR codes throughout the museum, giving visitors more details on the exhibits. Councillor Howard continued: "I even apologised to her for the times my children used her as a climbing frame at the old museum – sorry, old girl. "It's truly fantastic to see how beautifully she's been restored. "Now, she can be enjoyed by many generations to come."
