Swindon news, October 2026: day by day

Officers will be at the hub from 11am to 2pm on Wednesday 4 November to hear concerns and give advice.

Community · Source: Swindon Advertiser

SSEN says a fault on its network cut power to 43 households in the SN1 area, including Swindon Road, Prospect Hill, Western Street and Leighfield Close.

Community · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Stratton St Margaret Parish Council wants nominations for local heroes in four categories, with a deadline of 28 February 2027.

Community · Source: Swindon Advertiser

The Police and Crime Commissioner visited the force control room during International Control Room Week to thank staff.

Community · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Dale Harvey of The Great British Pub Crawl started at The Waiting Room on Fleet Street and called The Glue Pot 'a total gem'.

Food and drink · Source: Swindon Advertiser

The Loganberry Trust and Wiltshire Masons are running a pre-booked PSA blood testing session at The Planks in Old Town from 10am to 1pm.

Healthcare · Source: The Loganberry Trust

MPs told a Commons debate that HCRG's single phone line for community health services has led to long waits and missed referrals; HCRG says it has cleared the referral backlog and cut call waits to about three minutes.

Healthcare · Source: BBC News (Local Democracy Reporting Service)

A council report says the open-access centre, with a 24-hour crisis walk-in service and short-stay beds, is expected by the end of 2027/28, subject to planning.

Healthcare · Source: Rayo (Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Deputy council leader Jake Chandler said about 2,500 street trees could be planted in year one, while a Green Party campaigner urged faster action on EV charging.

Council and services · Source: Swindon 24

Wroughton and Wichelstowe Parish Council plans a £55,000 project at Moat Pond, funded by Section 106 developer contributions, to improve the pond for wildlife and people.

Parks and nature · Source: Swindon Advertiser

The screens would stand along the outlet's internal walkways, and listed building consent is needed because the site includes four listed buildings.

Shopping · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Jack Thomson and Joe Hungbo scored as Swindon beat a Rotherham side who had two players and their manager sent off, lifting Town to 13th in League Two.

Sport and fitness · Source: BBC Sport

Seven new scholars join the under-18s for two seasons, and three have already been involved with Ian Holloway's first team.

Sport and fitness · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Swindon Borough Council says its contractor has finished resurfacing the Dorcan Way footpath, part of nearly £6 million going on roads and pavements in 2026/27.

Transport · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Swindon's Remembrance Sunday service is at the Cenotaph in Regent Circus at 11am on Sunday 8 November 2026, according to Swindon Borough Council. Road closures affect the town centre, Wroughton, Upper Stratton and Highworth; Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade also have confirmed Remembrance events.

Transport · Source: Swindon's Bus Company

Swindon Borough Council is asking residents about moving the stop off an S-bend on a steep hill to a spot between Dumbarton Terrace and Hunt Street.

Transport · Source: Swindon Advertiser

A full road closure will be in place in Old Town from 6am to 8pm on Sunday 1 November, with bus services 9, 11 and 12 diverted.

Transport · Source: Swindon's Bus Company

Campaigners want more done to reopen Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre, closed since 2020, as Swindon Borough Council consults on its 20-year Local Plan, BBC Wiltshire reports. The consultation closes on 12 November.

Council and services · Source: BBC Wiltshire

TFN:Swindon, a day-long Transformers fan event with traders, voice actors and panels, will be held in STEAM's Great Western Hall on Saturday 21 November, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Things to do · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Engineering work means buses will replace GWR trains between Gloucester and Swindon all day on Sunday 1 November, with a revised Stroud to Swindon service on Saturday, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Transport · Source: Swindon Advertiser

National Highways will carry out geotechnical and maintenance work on the M4 between junctions 16 and 17 from 30 October 2026 to 4 October 2027, with overnight closures, a contraflow and 50mph limits, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Transport · Source: Swindon Advertiser

A business case for a new venue on the former bus station site will go to the council's Cabinet in February, and the Wyvern Theatre could stay open until 2029.

Arts and culture · Source: Swindon Advertiser (Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Neighbourhood police teams ran high-visibility patrols across Swindon and Wiltshire over Halloween and Bonfire Night 2026, with safety advice for trick-or-treaters and fireworks.

Community · Source: Wiltshire Police

Aimee, 27, walked a mile a day for 30 days in an inflatable dinosaur costume to raise money for Swindon neonatal charity Tiny But Mighty.

Community · Source: BBC News

Silicon Practice, a GP website company founded in Swindon, has gone into administration. Local NHS leaders say patient records are safe and surgeries remain open.

Healthcare · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Apples from Lydiard Park's Georgian walled garden have been made into three preserves with Dauntsey Preserves, on sale from next week.

Parks and nature · Source: Swindon Borough Council

The Brunel Shopping Centre in Swindon will run a free Santa's grotto from 14 November to 24 December, with booking advised, plus festive Makers' Markets and carol singing, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Shopping · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Swindon Town have 2,160 tickets for their FA Cup first round tie at Stadium MK on Saturday 7 November, with adult tickets at £15.

Sport and fitness · Source: Swindon Advertiser

The Barnfield Road depot is a finalist at the UK Bus Awards and the Go-Ahead Group Gold Awards after a year of rising passenger numbers.

Transport · Source: Swindon Link

Travelodge has asked Swindon Borough Council for a new premises licence for its hotel at Delta Business Park on Great Western Way, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Business and economy · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Brunel Academies Trust has cancelled its plan to open special educational needs places at Mulberry House on the Kembrey Trading Estate. It says the building and its location were unsuitable, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Education · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Great Western Hospital is under very high demand before winter has started, and patients are being warned they may wait longer, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Healthcare · Source: Swindon Advertiser

A footpath through a nature reserve in Royal Wootton Bassett is closed on Thursday 29 and Friday 30 October while a pond is rebuilt, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Parks and nature · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Swindon Town will be without midfielder Anthony Munda for this weekend's League Two game against Rotherham United, the Swindon Advertiser reports.

Sport and fitness · Source: Swindon Advertiser

STEAM, the museum of the Great Western Railway, is putting on its Christmas event again this year. More than 60 market stalls will be set up among the museum's displays and locomotives. It runs on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026, from 10am to 5pm, according to the council's events listing.

Things to do · Source: Swindon Borough Council

The director of Swindon's Wyvern Theatre says the 1970s venue needs to be replaced, BBC Wiltshire reports. The council plans to keep it open until a new theatre, expected to cost about £45m, is ready.

Arts and culture · Source: BBC Wiltshire

Cricklade's Grade II listed Victorian Jubilee clock, knocked over by a lorry, will be repaired by the Cumbria Clock Company, which worked on Big Ben. The restoration is expected to take at least 12 weeks, BBC Wiltshire reports.

Community · Source: BBC Wiltshire

Mark Fletcher, a former teacher at Ridgeway School and Sixth Form College in Swindon, has been banned from teaching indefinitely under a Teaching Regulation Agency prohibition order, with no review period.

Education · Source: BBC Wiltshire

The Swindon and Cricklade Railway ran Halloween ghost trains on Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October 2026 from Blunsdon Station. The railway's own event page now marks the event as passed.

Things to do · Source: Swindon Advertiser

Swindon came fifth in the UK in Benefact Group's Movement for Good Awards rankings after residents made 8,481 charity nominations between January and September, Swindon 24 reports.

Community · Source: Swindon 24

UTC Swindon, the town's specialist STEM school, will take pupils from Year 9 for the first time from September 2027, Swindon 24 reports. It currently teaches Year 10 to sixth form.

Education · Source: Swindon 24

Swindon PCSOs Kate Jackson and Lee Hare are celebrating 20 years of working together in neighbourhood policing, Wiltshire Police says.

Community · Source: Wiltshire Police

The government has placed the Thames Valley, including Swindon, on its programme for a new mayoral strategic authority, Swindon Borough Council says. Mayoral elections would follow in 2028.

Council and services · Source: Swindon Borough Council

Swindon Borough Council's automatic number plate recognition cameras are set to start a road safety monitoring pilot on Monday 2 November, subject to final checks.

Transport · Source: Swindon Link