Latest news with #SwindonBoroughCouncil
BBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Devizes Road closure sparks conflicting views in Swindon
The planned three-month closure of a major road in Swindon has drawn mixed reactions from residents and the closure, which will begin in June, Wales & West Utilities will replace ageing gas pipes under the A4289 Devizes Road, one of the key routes in the been issued temporary pavement licences, several businesses on the road have said the closure may revitalise trade, but commuters have raised concerns about the impact it will have on planned road closure, approved by Swindon Borough Council, will continue in phases until the end of September. The section of pipe being replaced is more than 80 years old and has reached the end of its operational Talikowski, vice chair of Old Town Business Association, is among those optimistic about the closure."The pop-up licences give businesses a chance to keep add some extra trading through the works, and to create a really positive atmosphere on Devizes Road this summer," he said."We're also committed to supporting our businesses and making the most of the situation."With safe pedestrian access maintained, and outdoor trading encouraged, we hope residents and visitors alike will continue to support Old Town throughout the summer." Charlotte Phipps, who owns The Flower Pot on Devizes Road, said she had mixed feelings about the project."I'm a bit apprehensive. I'm hoping that the footfall will be great, and I can have a lot more plants outside, but it's a big thing not having cars going past the shop," she added."The footfall of Old Town at the moment is brilliant. Lots of people are out and very positive about all the shops and things to see. The lack of traffic will hopefully bring in more people on foot."Hayley Stapleton, owner of the nearby bar the Tuppenny, said she was "really excited"."Having some outdoor space where we can trade in the summer months is a real positive," she a number of local residents have expressed concerns with one describing the closure as a "big hassle" and another believing that it would "cause more traffic problems" because of the knock-on effect on other works will start from the Croft Road end and gradually progress towards Wood Street.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Highworth golf course new homes plan would be 'catastrophe'
A plan for hundreds of homes on a former golf course has been called a potential "catastrophe" by a campaign Borough Council (SBC) will discuss three options on 4 June for the old Highworth Golf Course; a nature reserve, 400 homes with a reserve or 700 homes with some said officers are recommending the larger homes scheme as it will provide more cash for taxpayers and more affordable against the scheme say surveys show the council-owned land is a haven for wildlife and is used by about 500 people a day. The council has said the 700 homes scheme would leave 46% of the site left as parkland for the public. Any decision from councillors will not be the final one, as officers would then have to carry out pre-application spokesman Rob New said "It would be a catastrophe if this green, open accessible land was built on."Nearly 5,000 residents signed a petition opposing that, and around 500 people use this valued space every day."He claims the council wants to "cash in" by selling part of the site for housing."The site is a haven for nature with over 300 species of flora and fauna having been identified there," added Mr New. Councillor Kevin Small, SBC's cabinet member for finance, said: "It is almost a year since we asked officers to carry out a detailed options appraisal of the former golf course and we've taken our time because this is an important decision on a popular borough-owned asset."He said SBC has consulted with the town council and community to consider the nature reserve Small added that while he understood the 700-home scheme was "unpopular", it was important to make the most of the land due to the authority's "extremely challenging position".The site, which has been owned by different councils since the 1970s, stopped being a golf course in 2019.
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
‘Disgusting' bollards painted to look like cigarettes
An anonymous graffiti artist has divided opinion in a Wiltshire town by painting three bollards to look like giant cigarettes. While some residents have dubbed the art project 'disgusting', others say the results of the 'fun little joke' should be allowed to stay. Swindon's Hythe Road now features three posts that have been painted white with a black base and orange top, designed to resemble a burning stub and filter. Some have called it a 'brilliant idea' and thanked the anonymous artist for 'making the area look a bit better'. Meanwhile, Swindon Borough Council criticised the graffiti artist for failing to align with its public health policies. One person said: 'I probably would've preferred it not to be cigarettes if given the choice, but honestly it looks much better than it did when they were just bollards, so I'm all in favour of it.' Another added: 'I hope they're allowed to stay as they are, it's a fun little joke and it isn't harming anyone. 'I would love to see more stuff like this happen all over town and hope that artists who want to use their time and resources are encouraged to do things like this.' A third person said the bollards are 'very funny, to be honest' and that they hoped they would not be removed. But other local residents reacted angrily to the street art, with one dubbing it 'disgusting.' Another called the painted bollards 'pathetic', asking: 'Whose stupid idea was this?' Some have encouraged the person behind the transformation to keep their identity hidden. A council spokesperson said: 'We love street art in Swindon and this is certainly a very unusual choice of design. 'We don't want to stub out the flame of this artist's creativity, but the artwork obviously doesn't align with the efforts of our public health team to get people to quit smoking.'
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Graffiti artist who transformed bollards into giant cigarettes sparks row and leaves families fuming
A mystery graffiti artist has left locals fuming after they painted bollards to look like giant cigarettes. The three pillars on Hythe Road, Swindon, were covered in white and orange paint to very realistically replicate the tobacco product. The 'cigarette' bollards have divided residents, with some saying it is 'funny' while others insist they are 'disgusting'. Some said it is a 'brilliant idea' and thanked the anonymous artist for 'making the area look a bit better'. One person said: 'I probably would've preferred it not to be cigarettes if given the choice, but honestly it looks much better than it did when they were just bollards, so I'm all in favour of it.' Another added: 'I hope they're allowed to stay as they are, it's a fun little joke and it isn't harming anyone. 'I would love to see more stuff like this happen all over town and hope that artists who want to use their time and resources are encouraged to do things like this rather than stopped.' A third person said: 'Very funny, to be honest. Hope they stay.' Another added: 'Disgusting.' A fifth person said: 'Pathetic who's stupid idea was this.' Meanwhile, others have encouraged the person behind the transformation to keep their identity hidden. A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: 'We love street art in Swindon and this is certainly a very unusual choice of design. 'We don't want to stub out the flame of this artist's creativity, but the artwork obviously doesn't align with the efforts of our Public Health team to get people to quit smoking. 'We very much hope that passers-by who have kicked the habit don't develop old cravings, but, if they do, we'd encourage them and any other smokers to visit the Council's website and search 'Stop Smoking Services' for a range of advice and support.'
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Popular pub announces sudden closure with events forced to cancel and future uncertain as owners share update
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BELOVED pub has closed down after struggling to find a new landlord. The sudden closure of The Rolleston Arms in Swindon has left event organisers desperately searching for new venues. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The Rolleston Arms needs a new landlord Credit: Google One claimed the pub had lost its licence "due to the actions of the local council and pub company", but that has since been debunked. Swindon Borough Council confirmed The Rolleston Arms had not lost its licence and that the closure is temporary. A spokesperson for Stonegate, the company that owns the pub, said: "The pub is currently closed until further notice while we look to recruit a new publican to run the premises. 'We're also going to be carrying out repair work to the site before it eventually reopens under a new publican, so it will be closed for a little while.' Stonegate also echoed Swindon Borough Council and stressed that there was no issue with the licence. This isn't the first time the pub has been closed, much to the woe of thirsty punters. It's also seen several landlords come and go. It was previously called Commercial Road Tavern and was run by Violet McLaren, who sold it in 2023. It was taken over by Daniel Harrison, but by January 2024, it was boarded up. In June that year, Charlotte Thornton and Craig Waters took over the venue. Larry Lamb reveals his Channel 5 show with his son has been AXED after he quit TV for a totally different job But they have since left the business. In February this year, The Rolleston Arms was closed again due to "unforeseen issues" with the cellar cooling system. The Sun has approached Stonegate for comment. The Rolleston Arms is far from the only British pub struggling with the uncertain times of the hospitality industry. A string of beloved pubs are closing their doors, with punters and landlords alike left heartbroken as pressures in the hospitality industry hit boiling point. In East London, the historic Gun pub in Homerton has shut down after 160 years of service. Once a bustling local favourite, the venue was brought back to life in 2014 following a major revamp by landlords Nick Stephens and his partner Hanna-Sinclair Stephens. Despite surviving the Covid crunch thanks to a heroic crowdfunding campaign that raised over £30,000 in a single day, the couple say the pub has now become 'unsustainable'. 'It was hugely popular, but we just couldn't keep going,' Nick said. 'The capacity was only 90 — the numbers just didn't add up anymore.' Meanwhile, in Nottingham, The Emerald, a vibrant Indian pub and sports bar, has also called time, just two years after opening. Dubbed a 'labour of love' by its owners, The Emerald quickly became a community favourite for curry lovers and cricket fans alike. But behind the scenes, soaring costs and the departure of a key business partner created what they described as 'emotional, financial and operational strain'. In a heartfelt post, they thanked loyal customers: 'The Emerald was always more than just a pub—it was a cultural space… Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.' Social media lit up with tributes from heartbroken regulars. One wrote: 'It was more like home to us. And even award-winners haven't been spared, a Midlands pub, hailed as the region's best and a finalist for Desi Grill of the Year 2024, has also gone under, despite its short-lived success. The wave of closures paints a grim picture for the UK pub scene, already battered by the pandemic and now facing soaring prices for rent, business rates and barrels.
