URGENT UPDATE ON AFFECTED RECYCLING SERVICES:

Like many councils and businesses up and down the country, we are facing staff shortages which have been compounded by the increasing number of employees who have been asked to self-isolate as a result of COVID-19. We have therefore taken the difficult decision to change the frequency of our recycling box collection service. All other waste services remain unchanged.

From 19 July, all households across the borough will move to a temporary four weekly recycling box collection.

Skip to: Questions and answers about the service disruption

You can look up your street name on our A-Z list to find out your next recycling box collection date:

• Steet names starting A-F
• Steet names starting G-M
• Steet names starting N-S
• Steet names starting T-Z

We will return to our normal service as soon as possible and will let you know as soon as anything changes. Our website will be updated with further advice as soon as it is available. 

During this period the recycling crews will be collecting additional recycling, providing it is presented in sturdy containers. Excess cardboard must be broken down into manageable pieces and bundled neatly next to recycling boxes ready for collection.

Please note these changes don’t affect black wheelie bin, blue bag, plastic recycling, food waste, garden waste or clinical waste collections. 

Thanks for your understanding and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. Please share this message with friends, family and neighbours in Swindon borough, as well as those you know don’t have internet access.

https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20015/bins_rubbish_and_recycling/1206/covid-19_-_disruption_to_recycling_collections#qanda

Cllr Gary Sumner - The Ridgeway Ward

Southern Connector Road:

Number of homes consented at NEV

Latest position - Outline consent currently for:

• Lotmead and Lower Lotmead village - 2500 homes
• Redlands village - 370 homes
• Former South Marston hotel - 70 homes

Total = 2940 homes

Amount of new planting/hedgerows

There will be a net increase in hedgerows and linear tree belts of approximately 1,270 linear metres. There will also be a net increase in woodland cover of approximately 4.55 hectares (which is 10 times the amount of woodland being removed).

Cycle route

The SCR will have a dedicated cycle route running alongside and this will create a sustainable connection to the wider cycle networks within Swindon.

Length of new road

The Southern Connector Road (SCR) will provide a link between the New Eastern Villages (NEV) and Commonhead roundabout, near the Great Western Hospital. The two-way single carriageway will be 1.5 miles long.

Wanborough Traffic Calming Scheme – this includes the mini-roundabouts (funded through DfT)

The scheme aims to reduce speeds and make the route less desirable for inappropriate through traffic.

Changes to the High Street include (more detail available on the other changes on Council’s website):

• the realignment of the mini roundabout to reduce approach speed
• priority buildouts to slow drivers and reduce traffic flows in both directions

Changes to Pack Hill include:

• the introduction of a LED carriageway sign. This will inform vehicles travelling in the other direction that a larger vehicle is approaching, allowing sufficient time to stop and wait.

Changes to Rotten Row include:

• upgrade to the existing pedestrian crossing to Hooper’s field
• new SLOW road markings on either side of the crossing. This will warn drivers to slow down.

Changes to The Marsh and Burycroft include:

• the introduction of unsuitable for HGV traffic signs to inform HGV and large vehicles that the road is not suitable
• edge of carriageway markings to clearly distinguish the carriageway edge and visually narrow the road to reduce speeds

Other information

• The total cost of the scheme is £30.5 million, with the Department for Transport contributing £11.6 million and Homes England providing £18.9 million. Works are due to be completed by autumn 2022
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• The SCR scheme will not require any additional borrowing from the Council
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• A planning application and accompanying Environmental Impact Assessment was approved by the Council’s Planning Committee in December 2019
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• £72.5m is being invested into the road network around the New Eastern Villages, most of which has been secured from Government
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• To prevent rat-running, the proposed SCR junction with Wanborough Road will be designed to prevent southbound traffic on the SCR turning left towards Wanborough. It will also prevent traffic from Wanborough turning right onto the SCR. The need for traffic calming in surrounding villages will continue to be assessed as development proposals come forward
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• The road will be designed to avoid known areas of high archaeological interest. Measures will also be put in place to safeguard wildlife, particularly endangered species.
• As part of the road crosses a flood zone, drainage is an important element of the design. The Environment Agency is a key partner in helping to develop flood mitigation measures