Councillors and volunteers join Big Town Centre Clean-Up

More than 40 borough and parish councillors from across Swindon joined forces with community volunteers to tackle fly-tipping, litter and graffiti as part of The Big Town Centre Clean-Up.

Supported by volunteers from Keep Swindon Tidy and Eastcott Community Clean Up, councillors worked alongside South Swindon Parish Council and council officers on a range of improvement projects across the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.

Cllr Matthew Vallender, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Planning and Regeneration, who is also responsible for the town centre, said: “The response from local people throughout The Big Town Centre Clean

Up has been fantastic and Saturday’s session showed exactly what can be achieved when residents, community groups and elected members work together.

“Whether it was clearing fly-tipping, tackling graffiti or improving public spaces, everyone involved was united by a desire to make a positive difference to Swindon town centre. 

"I’d like to thank all the councillors from across the chamber who took part, as well as every volunteer who has given up their time to get involved this week.”

Volunteers cleared alleyways off Crombey Street where significant amounts of litter and fly-tipped waste had accumulated. 

Working together, the group, including local ward councillors for Queen’s Park, removed truckloads of rubbish, helping to restore the area for local residents.

Meanwhile, two teams of councillors rolled up their sleeves to remove graffiti from the glazing around the former Tented Market and the water fountain sculpture at the crossroads of Regent Street and Canal Walk using specialist cleaning wipes. 

At Wharf Green, councillors also sanded and varnished benches to improve the appearance of one of the town centre’s busiest public spaces.

The session rounded off a successful week of volunteering as part of The Big Town Centre Clean-Up, which has seen residents, community groups, businesses, councillors and council staff come together to support a programme of environmental improvements across the town centre.

Organised by Swindon Borough Council, the clean-up continues this week with volunteer sessions on every weekday.

Cllr Kevin Parry, Cabinet Member for Recycling and Streetscene, said: “One of the aims of The Big Town Centre Clean-Up has been to encourage a community-wide effort to improve the areas we all share, and Saturday’s turnout was a brilliant example of that.

“The work carried out by councillors and volunteers has made a visible difference, particularly in Eastcott where a huge amount of dumped waste was removed. 

"We’re also really grateful to groups such as Keep Swindon Tidy and Eastcott Community Clean Up, whose commitment to keeping Swindon clean continues throughout the year.”

Cllr Marina Strinkovsky, Labour and Co-operative ward councillor for Queen’s Park, said: “The alleyways off Crombey Street have been a concern for local residents for some time, so it was wonderful to see so many people come together to help clear the area.

“The amount of rubbish removed shows the scale of the challenge, but it also demonstrates what can be achieved through community action. 

"I’d like to thank everyone who volunteered their time and effort to help improve our neighbourhood.”

Cllr Lawrence Davies, Reform UK Swindon's shadow member for Waste and Streetscene, who took part in the graffiti removal at the former Tented Market, said: “Residents are fed up with seeing graffiti, litter and neglect in our town centre. 

"Saturday’s clean-up shows what can be achieved when councillors and volunteers roll up their sleeves and get things done.

“Removing graffiti from the Tented Market building might seem like a small job, but these kinds of improvements make a real difference to how people feel about the place where they live, work and visit. 

"I was pleased to support the clean-up effort and work alongside councillors from across the political spectrum and community volunteers.”