Rundown Swindon streets to become 'instagrammable'

Bridge Street and Fleet Street in Swindon town centre are renowned for closed businesses and graffiti

Rundown streets in a Wiltshire town are to become more "edgy and cool" and "instagrammable" as part of regeneration plans.

New festoon lighting, paving, street food and entertainment will soon be coming to Fleet Street and Bridge Street in Swindon. The area is renowned for closed shop fronts, graffiti and anti-social behaviour.

The news came in an update on Swindon Borough Council's "Heart of Swindon" plan, six months after the vision was launched, at an investment event at the House of Lords.

A new strapline, "Swindon - Make It Here", was also announced, as well as new officers assigned to tackle graffiti, fly-tipping and illegal parking. It will be funded by government funds awarded in 2021.

Leader of Swindon Borough Council Jim Robbins says the two streets to be revamped are "tired", "rundown" and feel unsafe

Leader of Swindon Borough Council Jim Robbins said the two streets were "tired", "rundown" and felt "unsafe".

Festoon lighting, new paving and public art is hoped to "brighten up" the area making it "more welcoming" and "instagrammable" said Mr Robbins.

Adding "street food and entertainment" will "change the feel of the space" making it more "edgy and cool".

The Fleming Way Interchange fully opened last month and is the first regeneration project to be completed in Swindon

The council in partnership with Wiltshire Police introduced a Public Space Protection Order last month in the town centre and the Broadgreen part of town, which allows officers to issue on the spot fines for anti-social behaviour (ASB).

Robbins said: "We're working hand-in-hand with Wiltshire Police to make sure the town centre is a safe place to be".

He added the council was looking "to do more" with new "ASB wardens" and "new officers who will be targeting graffiti, more enforcement officers to work on parking", and "new officers with warranted powers to fine people for fly-tipping".

Approximately 20 new posts will be recruited to fulfil these new roles with the money coming from budgetary savings including keeping other unfilled posts gapped.

Hundreds of jobs

The new strapline, "Swindon - Make It Here", will feature throughout the town centre and in investment brochures.

Mr Robbins said the strapline was inspired, in-part, by Swindon North MP Will Stone, who has recently secured a series of drone companies for the town, which will result in hundreds of new jobs.

He said the strapline leaned into the "manufacturing history of the town and the new manufacturing jobs that Will and the council are bringing into the town".

He added it could also be interpreted in a number of different ways, such as "make your life here, make your career here, or make your family here".