The South Swindon Parish Council column

By Cllr Chris Watts Chair of South Swindon Parish Council

Enchanted Gardens Light Trail 2022

The end of 2022 saw the return of the Enchanted Gardens Light Trail. In the end 25,000 people attended the event this year.

I would like to thank everyone who came along to the Town Gardens and experienced this magical event.

Harbour Project move into Broadgreen Community Centre

Monday 9 January was a historic day for Broadgreen Community Centre with the Harbour Project (a charity that support asylum seekers and refugees) moving in to sections of the building.

The Harbour Project had been operating from St Luke’s Church but have moved to Broadgreen Community Centre to operate from a larger space.

The Parish Council have agreed for Broadgreen Community Centre to be dual use- with the Harbour Project operating the centre on most weekdays, and the Parish Council making the centre available for bookings from the local community on weekday nights and weekends.

The Harbour Project’s occupancy in the centre follows more than £150,000 of investment to refurbish the community centre.

I had the pleasure of attending the Harbour Project’s opening at Broadgreen Community Centre and I am delighted to see the centre being used by such a capable group of people and look forward to seeing The Harbour Project grow over the years to come.

I am delighted to say that the community centre will reopen to the public for bookings over the coming months.

The Parish Council are currently in the process of appointing a new Community Facilities Officer who will oversee the running of Broadgreen and a new community centre in Badbury Park that will open soon.

Parish Projects in 2023 We have a lot of exciting projects in 2023. As I mentioned above, the Parish Council are looking forward to opening a new community centre in Badbury Park in the coming months, which will provide a bookable space for residents in an area where private booking space is at a premium.

We have secured funding from the Lawn Tennis Association to refurbish the Quarry Road Tennis Courts.

These courts are in desperate need of care and attention so this funding is very welcomed and will provide a needed space for recreation within the Old Town area.

The GWR Park improvements are nearing completion and we will be working with the National Trust to host a Blossom Festival at the end of April.

The new blossom circle and formal gardens on the eastern side of the park will bring new colour and vibrancy to the park which has not been seen for many years and will add to the already fantastic pollinator beds which the Parish Council dug last year.