A message from Matthew Golton, Great Western Railway Managing Director You may have seen the announcement made by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on the 12 May about a phased return to work. It’s clear that whilst the lockdown is starting to ease, advice for customers remains to avoid travelling by train wherever possible. With people who… read more
A new booking system and added restrictions will be in place when Swindon Borough Council partially re-opens its Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) next week. The Council will be trialling the partial re-opening of the HWRC in Cheney Manor industrial estate in order to effectively manage demand and ensure the safety of residents and staff…. read more
Parking season tickets which were due to expire during the coronavirus lockdown period will be automatically extended free of charge by Swindon Borough Council to support businesses and their employees. The Council has introduced the extension for car parking season tickets and leases for parking spaces in the Town Centre, Old Town and the Croft… read more
See details on the new virtual cyberschool for young people lanched by the Government.
People are being asked if they could spare a few minutes to put smiles on the faces of isolated residents as Swindon Borough Council launches a new initiative to help those who live in care homes. As part of the Council’s #HereForSwindon support measures, people across the borough – children in particular – are being… read more
To view the update on Covid-19, please follow the link below: SBC COVID-19 Newsletter
NALC has updated its dedicated webpage on the coronavirus. This includes a letter to local (parish and town) councils from Robert Jenrick MP and information on getting testing and homeworking. See the updates below: Letter to local councils On 30 April, Robert Jenrick MP, secretary of state for Housing, Communities and Local Government, wrote a letter… read more
Help for our shielded residents Over 5,000 residents of Swindon who have been advised to shield themselves to protect them from contracting coronavirus are being contacted again by the Council to inform them of the guidance around the delivery of food and medical supplies and to outline the support that is available for those experiencing loneliness… read more
Swindon Borough Council has written to more than 5,000 residents who have been identified by the NHS as being at high risk from coronavirus. The letter, which will hit doormats this week, contains guidance around the delivery of food and medical supplies and outlines the support that is available for those experiencing loneliness as a… read more
It would be really helpful if people could avoid having bonfires during this coronavirus lockdown period. While we know that the current weather makes getting out in the garden very tempting, lots of the false alarms we attend are caused by bonfires. Equally, bonfires can get out of control very easily. Please help us to… read more
Nationally and locally there have been an increase in mental health issues and self-harm. MIND are available to help and provide advice. You can find their contact details here: www.mind.org.uk
Thames Water has guidance for their customers who may be struggling to pay their bills during the pandemic. Please visit: www.thameswater.co.uk/my-account/billing-and-payment/help-paying-your-bill
Scams over the phone are nothing new, but, in the current climate, they are being adapted. Criminals are exploiting the need to keep ourselves safe and take protective measures during the COVID19 pandemic so are reinventing their scams to use Coronavirus as a hook. Any unsolicited phones calls should be treated with extreme caution, and… read more
The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on everyone’s life and routines, creating a significant challenge for all public and consumer services whose response has been ‘magnificent’. Ironically, the government’s lockdown ‘stay at home’ measure has witnessed the extent to which human nature can rally to the needs of other people with so many… read more
An army of Swindon Borough Council staff members have stepped out of their comfort zone to keep critical services running for residents during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. More than 110 employees have been redeployed from non-critical roles to support the Council’s frontline services. The Council’s Redeployment Hub has worked with staff to move them into… read more
Dealing with your waste responsibly It is more important than ever to deal with your waste responsibly. We need your help to keep our staff safe, and to minimise the amount of waste and recycling you put out for collection. Do not burn rubbish. We are investigating reports of bonfires See our daily report… read more
Our staff have been overwhelmed by the support shown for them each Thursday for Clap For Our Carers. We would love to be able to share with them what’s happening in streets around Wiltshire at 8pm each Thursday. Please send us your videos and pictures of what’s happening in your streets via our social media… read more
The link below has advice about how to comply with Ramadan during Covid-19: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52363397
Dear resident, I hope you and your loved ones are keeping well, as we continue to get through this challenging situation. The Swindon community continues to pull together, particularly to support our most vulnerable residents who depend on emergency food supplies and medication being delivered to them by the Council, partners and our fantastic volunteers…. read more