News

🚧 A419/A417 Essential Maintenance – March 2026
🚧 A419/A417 Essential Maintenance – March 2026 2560 2499 Liz Matthews

Concrete carriageway repairs coming to the A419/A417 to ensure safer, smoother journeys.

đź“… Key Dates:

  • Wed 18th & Thu 19th March: Overnight closures (8pm-6am)
  • Fri 20th – Mon 23rd March: Full weekend closure (8pm Fri-6am Mon)

âś… No disruption during weekday daytime hours âś… Signed diversion routes in place âś… Follow diversion signs, NOT sat nav

📧 Questions? Contact: Fatima.Alawad@wsp.com

đź”— Click to read the full details and diversion route maps.

A419/A417 Essential Maintenance – Night Closures Starting 27th January
A419/A417 Essential Maintenance – Night Closures Starting 27th January 2560 2499 Liz Matthews

Essential crack sealing work is coming to the A419/A417 to keep your journeys safer and smoother for years to come.

What’s happening? Crack sealing work will prevent serious carriageway damage, reducing the need for major repairs and keeping the road open more often in future.

When? Overnight closures (8pm-6am) from 27th January to 10th February at various locations.

Key dates: 🔸 A417 (27-28 Jan & 29-30 Jan + 2 Feb) 🔸 A419 (3-10 Feb)

Important:

âś… Roads fully open outside these hours

âś… Follow signed diversions – NOT sat nav

âś… Diversion routes clearly marked

đź“Ť Check before you travel and plan alternative routes for affected overnight journeys.

👉 Read full details including specific closure locations and diversion routes here

Replacement of Footbridge Decking at Ray Close and The Chestnuts
Replacement of Footbridge Decking at Ray Close and The Chestnuts 1100 1074 Liz Matthews

On behalf of Swindon Borough Council

We would like to bring to your attention some maintenance works that will be taking place shortly at two footbridges in Haydon Wick (please refer to the location plans below). The works at Ray Close will be taking place on Monday 19th January whilst those at The Chestnuts on Tuesday 20th January.

The work involves the replacement of the deteriorated decking of the footbridges with a GRP alternative. As shown in the attached plans, diversion routes will be in place whilst these works are taking place.

Should you have any queries concerning the above, please contact:

Lawrence Murphy
Transport Project Manager

Highways Programme and Project Delivery
Swindon Borough Council

LMurphy@swindon.gov.uk

Important Community Update: Bird Flu Precautions in Haydon Wick
Important Community Update: Bird Flu Precautions in Haydon Wick 2474 1390 Liz Matthews
Our Parks and Open Spaces Team is here to support you
Following a confirmed case of Avian Flu at Coate Water Park, we want to reassure the Haydon Wick community that robust procedures are in place to protect our parks and open spaces across the parish.
What Swindon Borough Council Rangers Are Doing
SBC Ranger Teams are conducting weekly checks for bird carcasses every Monday at local sites, with collections taking place Monday through Wednesday. This proactive monitoring will continue through to the New Year.
Teams are checking:
  • Lydiard Wardens: Lydiard, Peatmoor, and Moulden Hill
  • Coate Wardens: Coate, Wichelstowe, The Lawns, Shaftsbury, Liden Lagoon, Queens Park, and Stanton
Informational posters are being displayed across our parks to keep everyone informed and safe.
How You Can Help Keep Our Community Safe
When visiting our parks and open spaces, please follow these important precautions:
âś“ Keep to footpaths and keep dogs on leads
âś“ Do not feed wild waterfowl
âś“ Do not pick up or touch dead or sick wild birds
âś“ Do not touch wild bird feathers or surfaces contaminated with droppings
âś“ If you keep poultry or other birds, wash your hands and clean and disinfect your footwear before tending to them
Report and Get Support
Spotted a dead wild bird?
Please report dead wild waterfowl (swans, geese, or ducks) or other dead wild birds to:
📧 swindonrangers@swindon.gov.uk
Questions or concerns?
Contact the Ranger Team at swindonrangers@swindon.gov.uk
More information:
Visit gov.uk/Bird-flu for comprehensive guidance
Your Parks and Open Spaces Team is committed to maintaining safe, enjoyable spaces for our community. Thank you for helping us protect both wildlife and residents by following these guidelines.

Temporary closure of Elsham Way footbridge to install replacement decking.
Temporary closure of Elsham Way footbridge to install replacement decking. 2560 2499 Liz Matthews

On behalf of Swindon Borough Council

There will be a temporary closure of Elsham Way footbridge from Monday 5th January 2026
for a period of approximately 1 week. The closure is required to enable a contractor to
replace the decking of the footbridge and to undertake some localised resurfacing of the
footpath.

During the closure period pedestrians are kindly requested to use the diversion route (red
dotted line) shown in the plan below.

Swindon Borough Council apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused by these maintenance works, but they are an important requirement for the continued and safe operation of the footpath. Thank you for your co-operation and patience during this period, and if you have any queries regarding the above, please email: hppd@swindon.gov.u

Francomes Play Area Closed For Safety Reasons
Francomes Play Area Closed For Safety Reasons 481 640 Liz Matthews

We want to update our residents about why the Francomes Play Area has been temporarily closed.

Recent inspections found uneven and lifting surfaces, water pooling, and damaged equipment—all of which pose real safety risks. For everyone’s wellbeing, we’ve had to close the site until further notice.

You may be surprised to hear this, but Haydon Wick Parish Council does not own or lease this land. Swindon Borough Council doesn’t either. Both parties are currently awaiting confirmation from the landowner.

Without ownership or a lease, we cannot justify spending public funds on major repairs—early estimates are over £75,000—on privately owned land.

👉 We’ve closed the play area for your safety.
👉 Please avoid the site for now.
👉 We’ll share updates as soon as we receive a response from the landowner.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

In the meantime, you can enjoy Brookfield Play Area which is close by.

National Tree Week
National Tree Week 1600 1200 Liz Matthews

Haydon Wick Parish Council marked National Tree Week by supporting work to identify significant and clearly visible trees across parish-managed land. This forms part of a proposal that will be brought forward to create a Parish Tree Identification Trail.

Trees play an important role in our community. They support wildlife, improve air quality, regulate temperature, and help define the character of Seven Fields, Mouldon Hill, and our wider green spaces. Many of our mature trees hold long standing value and sit at the centre of established biodiversity corridors.
The parish has also supported new planting across the area, including recent work at Tadpole Field in Oakhurst, Grace Walk in Haydon End, and Heaton Close in Abbey Meads. These projects build on planting delivered through the Trees for Climate programme with the Great Western Community Forest and Swindon Borough Council.
As this proposal develops, selected trees would receive plaques fixed safely without causing damage. Each plaque would show the species name and key facts, with a QR code linking to seasonal information on the parish website. Early work will focus on trees that are simple to access for residents, families, and schools. The council will also invite local schools to help identify suitable candidates and will hold a short public walkthrough at one of the recent planting sites.
If you know of a tree in Haydon Wick with ecological or community interest, we welcome your suggestions.
Cllr Leanne Stevenson

National Tree Week – join the UK’s largest tree celebration

Community Champion
Community Champion 1920 2560 Liz Matthews
Huge shoutout to Daniel, who absolutely smashed it as our Minibus Driver’s mate on Tuesday.
From helping residents with shopping trolleys and taking fares, to carrying bags and providing that all-important door-to-door service – Daniel did it all with a smile. His personality truly shone through, and he gained confidence with every stop.
Daniel has been volunteering with @PhoenixEnterprisesSwindon since September 2023, bringing reliability, positivity, and infectious good humour to everything he does. Whether it’s production work, school maintenance, or now our Community Bus shopping trips, Daniel’s enthusiasm for staying active and helping others is genuinely inspiring.
Well done, Daniel – you were brilliant! We’re lucky to have you as part of our community. đź’™

What An Incredible Achievement!
What An Incredible Achievement! 1181 1181 Liz Matthews
A massive thank you to all the Councillors, Officers, Staff and volunteers who took their turn on the spin bike for the Haydon Wick Parish Council 24-hour bikeathon. Cycling from 1pm Friday, through the night, and arriving at their finish at 1pm Saturday, they completed an astounding 384 miles—every single one of those miles completed with a smile!
This remarkable effort was all in support of The Kelly Foundation, our chosen charity with an inspiring vision: to become the first name people in Swindon think of when it comes to mental health support. They’re working to establish mental health hubs across every part of Swindon—in community spaces and cafĂ©s—creating a one-stop shop for anyone facing mental health challenges. We’re proud to support them in making this aspiration a reality.
We are still collecting sponsorship. If you did want to show your support for this awe-inspiring charity, please click on the link: https://www.justgiving.com/…/haydon-wick-parish-council…
đź’Ş But for some of our Councillors the weekend didn’t stop there! Cllrs Ali, Jackson & Parks went above and beyond, taking on the ultimate test of strength and endurance at Sunday’s Longevity Games.
The Longevity Games aren’t just about competition—they’re about celebrating functional fitness that supports healthy ageing, independence, and quality of life. Through exercises that mimic everyday movements, participants boost their physical health, mental sharpness, balance, and flexibility.
Our Councillors led by example, proving that it’s never too late to prioritise your health and inspire others to do the same. From the 24-hour bikeathon to the Longevity Games, this weekend showcased the very best of our community’s spirit and dedication! đź‘Ź
Learn more about the Longevity Games here: https://thelongevitygames.co.uk/

Footbridge Closure Notice
Footbridge Closure Notice 2560 2499 Liz Matthews

Location: Footbridges between Lyme Way and Brookfield Play Park

Dates: Monday 24th November 2025 (approx. 2 weeks)
What’s happening?
Swindon Borough Council is replacing the decking on both footbridges and resurfacing surrounding footpaths to keep them safe for everyone.
How will this affect you?
The two bridges will be closed one at a time, so you’ll always have one available route. Please use whichever bridge is open during your visit.
Good to know:
âś… One bridge will remain open at all times
âś… Suitable for pedestrians and cyclists
âś… Essential maintenance for continued safe use

Swindon Borough Council apologises for any inconvenience and thanks you for your patience while these important improvements are carried out.

Questions? Email: hppd@swindon.gov.uk

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About Us

We are the Parish Council that wants to lead and develop our local community. We are self-aware and are committed to focussing on the urban issues that are important to the entire community.

 

Our Address
Haydon Wick Parish Council
Thames Avenue
Haydon Wick
Swindon
SN25 1QQ

 

 

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Our thanks to Mark Weaving, Phil Jefferies, Rimpy and Shohini Dutta Kanungo for many of the photographs used across the website

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