Cllr Leanne Stevenson

10/06/2026

Hundreds came together at Queen’s Park to celebrate Swindon’s Polish community with music, dance and traditional food. Thank you to the Swindon Advertiser for the coverage 🇵🇱

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/26174551.heidi-alexander-pushes-cohesive-community-key-swindon-event/

08/06/2026

Community, food and a love of reading - Swindon Big Lunch 📚

A really nice afternoon at the National Literacy Trust Big Lunch at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street with my children, seeing residents brought together through a shared love of reading, good food and conversation as part of Swindon’s Year of Reading.

Reading has benefits at every stage of life. It helps children develop language and confidence, supports mental wellbeing, reduces stress, and can help older residents stay connected and keep their minds active. No amount of time is too small to make a difference and literacy can change everything. That is why our libraries are so important.

It was also a fitting occasion during Volunteers’ Week to say a big thank you to all the people who give their time to make a positive difference to children’s literacy and families here in Swindon.

Great to see Cllr Alex Hughes
Cllr Kate Tomlinson, Justin Tomlinson, and Cllr Jake Chandler - St Andrews,

08/06/2026

A tale of two landowners.

Separated by little more than a bus lane, the contrast at Orbital is clear.

Outside Next and New Look, British Land is investing in keeping the area clean, maintained and welcoming.

Meanwhile, the fenced-off area outside Asda is once again looking neglected. While there are long-term plans to level the fountains area, add seating and introduce greenery, these proposals have been discussed for over a year with little visible progress.

Sadly, the former fountains will not be returning, so it is important that a new use for the space is delivered and maintained to a good standard.

In the meantime, I have again asked Asda to clear the area and improve its appearance while longer-term plans are progressed.

08/06/2026

Polish Day Swindon 🇵🇱

Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining the Polish community at Queen’s Park for Polish Day Swindon and what a brilliant event it was. Brilliantly attended, full of life, music, food and real community spirit.

It was a genuine honour to spend time with Dr Simon Selby - Honorary Consul Republic of Poland. A remarkable person who wears many hats, from his vital consular work to his dedication with St John Ambulance, and does so much behind the scenes for the Polish community here in Swindon. It was also great to walk round with my family and Cllr Jake Chandler - St Andrews, Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council, and a member of the Town Twinning Committee.

I also met Ella, one of just 32 Scouts selected to represent UK Wiltshire at the 26th World Scout Jamboree in Gdańsk, Poland in 2027. I’ve popped her details in the comments if you’d like to find out more about her journey.

As your local Councillor and Armed Forces Champion this event is especially personal to me. During my time serving in the British Army I had the privilege of spending three months on exercise in Drawsko Pomorskie as part of a major NATO training deployment. It is a remarkable part of the world. Dense pine forests, vast open ranges, rolling hills and stunning lakes. Living and working out there alongside our Polish and NATO allies was an experience I will never forget and the pride, resilience and warmth of the Polish people made a profound impression on me.

That same spirit is alive and well here in Swindon and yesterday was a perfect reminder of just how much the Polish community enriches our town. Long may it continue. Dziękujemy!

06/06/2026

Putting Swindon’s Allotments Back On The Agenda 🍅🥕🥦

Allotments are not simply places to grow vegetables. They are recognised as essential green infrastructure. Alongside parks, nature reserves and green corridors, they form a vital part of the living fabric of our towns and cities, delivering real environmental and social benefits for the communities they serve.

In Swindon, as across the country, allotments contribute to cleaner air, better drainage, cooler urban temperatures and thriving local biodiversity. They support mental wellbeing, encourage physical activity and give families, especially younger generations, the chance to connect with food, wildlife and the natural world. As allotment holders ourselves, we know first-hand how much these spaces matter.

That is why protecting and expanding Swindon’s allotments is not a niche concern. It is part of the broader challenge of making our town, healthier and more resilient for the future.

Allotments are not just places to grow fruit and vegetables. They support biodiversity, improve mental wellbeing, encourage physical activity and give younger generations the opportunity to learn about food, wildlife and the environment.

That is why we are continuing to push for stronger protections for the allotment sites we already have, alongside a clear commitment to deliver more allotment spaces across Swindon through the upcoming Local Plan.

Over the past year, we have both worked to keep allotments firmly on the agenda. More than 500 concerned residents signed Leanne’s petition calling for greater protection for Swindon’s allotments, and Jake brought a motion to Full Council seeking a firm commitment that existing sites would be retained.

The previous administration would only commit to no overall net loss of allotment sites. This means an existing allotment site could still potentially be lost, provided replacement sites were created elsewhere.

That is not good enough.

Established allotment sites take years to develop. They support wildlife, provide valued growing spaces for residents and form part of the communities built around them. Protecting the allotments we already have is just as important as creating new ones.

We will now be bringing a motion to Full Council and will share the full details in due course. We will continue working with our fellow Swindon Conservative Councillors to secure stronger protections for these vital green spaces for future generations to come.

Cllr Leanne Stevenson and Cllr Jake Chandler

06/06/2026

This day in history 6 June 1944, , British soldiers landed in Normandy alongside Allied forces to begin the liberation of Europe.

Today, we remember their courage, sacrifice, and service 🫡 🪖

Lest we forget.

05/06/2026

Supporting a £1 million investment in Swindon’s veteran community

As both a military veteran and Swindon Borough Council’s Armed Forces Champion, I am supporting Voluntary Action Swindon (VAS), in collaboration with Swindon Borough Council, to secure funding through the Op VALOUR Recognised Support Centres Development Fund, with bids of up to £1 million available to strengthen support for veterans and their families.

Swindon has a proud and longstanding connection with the Armed Forces. Our town sits at the heart of a region with a significant military presence, including RAF Brize Norton, MOD Lyneham, 29 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at South Cerney, 162 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, and the wider military community across Wiltshire. Many serving personnel choose to settle in Swindon following their service, making a valuable contribution to our economy, public services, businesses and community organisations.

The Op VALOUR Recognised Support Centres Development Fund is designed to improve support for veterans through better access to housing, employment, health, wellbeing and welfare services. It aims to create a more coordinated and accessible network of support, helping veterans and their families access the right help at the right time.

A successful bid would represent a significant investment in Swindon and strengthen the support available to our local Armed Forces community.

A bid submitted last year was unsuccessful and did not receive endorsements from either of Swindon’s MPs. Both MPs were contacted again in December regarding this year’s bid and, as of Wednesday, no endorsement had been received from both. Given the importance of this funding opportunity for Swindon’s veteran community, I have today written to both Will Stone for Swindon North and Heidi Alexander for Swindon South to stress the urgency of their support ahead of the submission just over a week away.

This is not a political issue. It is an opportunity to secure significant Government investment for Swindon and improve support for local veterans and their families.

I hope both MPs will support this bid and help ensure Swindon presents the strongest possible case for this funding.

Our veterans have served the nation. We should do everything we can to support them when they choose to make Swindon their home.

Featured in this photo is Chris Offord, Veteran Support Navigator, Voluntary Action Swindon.

**Update** Thank you to Will Stone MP for sending a letter of support today to VAS. Let’s get this over the line for our veterans who need this vital support.

04/06/2026

Pleased to see this bin removed from Taw Hill shops. We will continue working together to help ensure that any others operating without the proper permissions are identified and removed.

A recycling bin placed on private land has been removed

03/06/2026

It’s a big line up! Diary dates for up and coming events at Lydiard Park 👇

03/06/2026

Fallen Tree Reported at Thyme Play Area 🌳⚠️

During last night’s Haydon Wick Parish Council Parks and Open Spaces tour, we identified a fallen tree at Thyme Play Area immediately upon arriving at the site. The tree appears to have come down following the recent weather conditions.

The tree has fallen directly across the seesaw and is obstructing part of the surrounding play area. It was photographed, reported and with Haydon Wick Parish Council so that it can be assessed and the necessary action taken.

📌 Reference number: HWPC10780

Please take extra care when visiting the play area with children until the tree has been safely cleared.

Cllr Leanne Stevenson & Cllr Vinay Manro

**Update our fast and active Parks and Open Spaces Team at Haydon Wick Council have removed the tree from the play equipment in order to make it safe. They will return on Friday to remove the remainder of the tree from behind the fence**