Property owners urged to fix eyesores as part of The Big Town Centre Clean-Up

By Barrie Hudson - 17 July 2026

Community
  • Cllr Matthew Vallender, Cabinet Member for Culture, Planning and Regeneration

    Cllr Matthew Vallender, Cabinet Member for Culture, Planning and Regeneration

Town centre businesses and property owners are being asked to tackle maintenance issues ranging from graffiti and broken windows to overgrown vegetation.


The move comes as Swindon Borough Council prepares for The Big Town Centre Clean-Up later this summer.
The council is writing to the owners and occupiers of a number of town centre properties and businesses whose buildings or land it deems are having a negative impact on the appearance of the area. 
The letters encourage property owners to take action ahead of a targeted programme of improvement works during the final two weeks of August.
Signed by Cllr Matthew Vallender, Cabinet Member for Culture, Planning and Regeneration, the letters will ask property owners to review their buildings and complete essential maintenance, including removing graffiti, clearing weeds and overgrown vegetation, repairing broken windows, removing unauthorised damaged or outdated signage and ensuring waste storage areas are kept clean and tidy. 
Owners will also be provided with photographs of issues identified at their properties.
Cllr Vallender said: “The council can play its part by maintaining the public realm which is why we are running The Big Town Centre Clean-Up to target effort in the last two weeks of August.
“Many of the buildings that people see every day are privately owned, and the condition of those properties has a direct impact on how our town centre looks and feels. 
"That’s why I’m writing to business owners and occupiers asking them to take pride in their properties and address maintenance issues such as removing graffiti, clearing weeds and removing damaged or outdated signage.”
The correspondence forms part of the council’s wider Big Town Centre Clean-Up initiative, which will see council teams carrying out street cleaning, jet washing, paving repairs, weed removal and other environmental improvements across key town centre locations.
Property owners are being asked to address identified issues by the end of August.
The council is also reminding owners that persistent issues affecting the appearance or condition of properties may result in formal enforcement action where legal powers allow.
Cllr Vallender added: “This is about taking practical, reasonable steps that collectively make a visible difference to the appearance of our town centre.
“We know there are long-term challenges around regeneration and investment, but there are also simple actions that can be taken now. 
"By working together, property owners, businesses and the Council can help create a cleaner, more welcoming town centre for residents, visitors and investors alike.”
 

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