Latest news with #SwindonBoroughCouncil
BBC News
8 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Council looks to extend dog fouling order
A council is looking for people to share their views on a proposed renewal of a legal order to clamp down on dog Borough Council's Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is expiring, and the authority wants to continue to use the powers.A separate order covering Lydiard Park is also due for renewal. It has been in place since 2016, and the council said it has reduced the number of complaints about fouling, nuisance dogs and their Jim Grant, cabinet member for communities and partnerships, said dog fouling was regularly raised by residents who use local parks and open spaces. The PSPO allows anti-social behaviour wardens to issue fixed penalty notices to anyone caught failing to pick up after their Grant urged people to complete an online survey about the order."We think it is working," he said. "But by law, after every three years, we have to renew it, and we have to consult with the public to determine whether they want it renewed."It's pretty obvious that people do want it renewed, and I'm hoping that people that do respond to the consultation will not just say yes, but give further views on the subject." Councillor Grant added that even people who fail to respond to a warden can still be fined."Almost nobody goes to Lydiard Park without a car. If they ignore the officer, that officer can then note down the number plate, and we will be able to get these people," he said."The more fines we're able to issue, the more of a deterrent it is going to be."He said the council is also looking to employ more wardens to address the survey can be completed on the council's website until 20 July.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
Swindon kebab shop rat infestation leads to longer closure
A kebab shop will remain closed after a judge was shown evidence of a major rat Kebab, located on Manchester Road in Swindon, was initially forced to close its doors after Swindon Borough Council's Environmental Health team responded to a complaint from a member of the the visit on 5 June, officers found rat droppings and evidence of gnawing in the food preparation areas, along with the smell of inspectors noted there was an imminent risk to the health of customers and shut the premises to protect the public. 'Extreme case' District Judge Kirsty Allman, sitting at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, imposed a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order on the shop after being presented with evidence of the inspection by the urine stains and droppings were found on the lids of plastic containers for spices within the kitchen. Gnawed flour bags were also found on shelves among the rat were found in walls, floors and doors making it easy for the rodents to enter the premises. The cleaning standards were also found to be poor with a build-up of debris and rodent smears on floors and lack of appropriate cleaning chemicals for food contact surfaces was also noted while containers, utensils, chopping boards and crockery were stored openly in areas of rodent and general personal hygiene was also observed to be poor. The emergency prohibition order granted by the court allows the council to keep the shop shut until it is satisfied that the safety of customers can be met. Councillor Jim Grant, Cabinet Member for Joint Working and Communities, said: "The conditions found in this kebab shop were appalling."He added: "This is an extreme case but it is a reminder to all food business owners of their responsibilities when it comes to food hygiene."I'd like to personally thank the member of the public who reported this infestation to us, so our environmental health officers could take prompt action to protect the health of customers."
BBC News
19 hours ago
- BBC News
Tenants raise concerns as council begins plan to improve housing
A multi-million pound plan to improve Swindon's social housing has started with a series of public engagement Swindon Borough Council "Let's Talk Housing" events asked for feedback from tenants to help it target the "right issues in the right order".At these events tenants raised safety, maintenance and anti-social behaviour concerns, with one tenant saying: "People are scared, they don't want to live there anymore, it's not safe."The council has allocated £250m to make improvements after a report by the housing regulator found "serious failings" in standards and said "significant improvement" was needed. Christopher Weston attended the first Let's Talk Housing event to raise safety concerns on behalf of his elderly mother who has lived in a council-owned property for two said: "The council are not doing what they should be doing."Another tenant, who wished to remain anonymous, raised concerns over his safety because he said that drug dealing in his block has been ongoing for three said: "I want them [the council] to get rid of the people doing the drug dealing, I want them thrown out, they're breaking the tenancy agreement." Danny Iles lives in a 10-storey block of flats in Park North, with a water leak for two years which has spread from his bathroom to his hallway and kitchen caused Mr Iles's brother to move out of the property, which they shared together for 15 Iles said the council came out on multiple occasions but failed to fix the problem and "in the end I gave up".He said the situation has left him with feelings of "stress" and "anger" adding he feels like he has been "forgotten about". Swindon Borough Council's head of housing, councillor Janine Howarth, said she wants to "reassure Danny that we are working over the next five years to bring the housing stock up to the standard it should have been over the past 20 years".Council leader, Jim Robbins, said the events enabled the council to talk to tenants to ensure they "target the right issues in the right order".In December the council self-referred to the housing regulator and following a critical report it has committed to raising the standard of council housing over the next five years by spending £250m.
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Headlines: Rainbow bridge, MBE awards and Bath Rugby celebrations
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media. Our pick of local website stories Bristol Live's story of a mum-of-four who died in a skydiving accident on the Somerset and Devon border has had a big response. Belinda Taylor, 48, from Totnes, and Adam Harrison, 30, from Bournemouth, died in the accident at Dunkeswell Aerodrome at about 13:00 BST on Friday.A 26-year-old cyclist died in a collision in Ringwood, the Salisbury Journal Mitford and Son in Westbury-on-Trym is due to close in September. The hardware shop has been there for 160 years, writes Bristol Advertiser followed a trans solidarity march in the town over the the Rainbow Bridge connecting Montpelier and St Andrew's in Bristol has been restored to its former colourful state by a team of volunteers, Bristol 24/7 reports. Our top three yesterday What to watch on social media There were celebrations over the weekend following Bath's Premiership Rugby are in order for Pier Pritchard who was awarded an MBE in The King's Birthday Honours List for her work in Wiltshire Council's children's safeguarding Borough Council will start work on a £55,000 project to refresh the Greenbridge roundabout next are striking again, so there will be blood test disruption in Gloucestershire this week.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Travellers set up illegal encampment next to primary school as parents told to take 'extra precautions' when dropping their children off
A large group of travellers have set up an illegal encampment next to a primary school in Swindon. Lainesmead Primary School is open and operating as usual despite the 24 caravans, which appeared on Thursday evening. The vehicles initially blocked the footpath between the local playing fields and the school's perimeter fence. The police and Swindon Borough Council are 'working to move on' the group. A council spokesperson said: 'We are working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council to liaise with the travellers and manage their presence at the site.' Wiltshire Police attended the scene this morning - issuing notices to the travellers. A force spokesman said: 'We are working in partnership with Swindon Borough Council to liaise with the travellers and manage their presence at the site.' Local residents are furious and worried for the affects on the community. One said: 'As usual, travellers do what they want with no consequences. 'It's not been long since they left crap - literally - all over the field in Wootton Bassett Road, showing they have little care for the community around them.' As well as the caravans, there are approximately 20 cars and vans parked on the fields. Ariel footage shows the large number of travellers that arrived in the area.
