Swindon has always been a town that gets things done. From the railway works to today’s science, engineering and advanced manufacturing, we have a record of making things happen.
That is the spirit behind the Labour & Co-operative Party’s plan for the town. Practical action on the things that matter day-to-day, alongside real ambition for where Swindon goes next.
Last month, our councillors put forward five motions to Full Council, all with one unifying theme – improving Swindon.
• Tackling the causes of fly-tipping hotspots, with a supervised community skip pilot (Cllr Princia Fernandes).
• A joint protocol with Wiltshire Police so that obstructive vehicles stop forcing prams and wheelchairs into the road (Cllr Stanka Wilson).
• A public list of Swindon’s nature reserves and clarity on who looks after them (Cllr Stanka Wilson).
• A review of HMO limits and a look at an Article 4 Direction, to keep neighbourhoods balanced (Cllr Paul Dixon).
• Year-round care for our Cenotaph, not just in the run-up to Remembrance (Cllr Mike Davies).
None of these are glamorous. All of them are about clear responsibility, evidence and follow-through, so residents know who is accountable and can see results. We will keep pressing for them and working on similar issues facing the town.
But pride in place is not only about the street outside your front door. It is also about confidence in the town’s future. That is why we are continuing to make the case for a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Thames Valley.
A combined authority would bring decisions and investment into Swindon. It would join up transport, skills, housing and economic development across our area, where people actually live, work and travel. It would let Swindon play a full part in the Government’s plans for growth, rather than watching from the sidelines. Swindon has the location, the skills and the businesses to be a driving force in that partnership. Our growing advanced manufacturing sector, being led by Drone companies and defence investment, show this.
We saw the Budget and the Government’s new Devolution White Paper released last month. This new emphasis on the regions is going to continue, investment money is being pumped into the Mayoral Authorities and at the moment we are in danger of being left behind. We will continue to push for a fair deal for Swindon, at the heart of the Thames Valley, and the powers to make the most of it.
Fix the basics, back our neighbourhoods and think big for the town. That is our plan, and I’m confident Swindon can prosper from it.
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