Environmental problems news
Council vehicle fleet to switch to greener fuel
Swindon Borough Council’s vehicle fleet will no longer be powered by fossil fuels as a renewable biofuel will be phased in from next month.
Published: Monday, 2nd March 2026-
Rogue trader given suspended jail sentence for defrauding vulnerable Swindon pensioner
A cowboy builder who manipulated an 85-year-old woman into handing over £26,000 for unnecessary and substandard building work has been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Published: Friday, 20th February 2026 -
Kebab shop to remain closed after severe rat infestation discovered
A District Judge has ordered the owner of a Manchester Road kebab shop to keep his premises closed after being shown evidence of a major rat infestation.
Published: Thursday, 19th June 2025 -
Owner of rat-infested store fined thousands after council prosecution
The owner of a grocery store in Broadgreen, which had the worst rat infestation ever seen by a council inspector, has been ordered to pay almost £30,000 by magistrates.
Published: Monday, 17th February 2025 -
BBQ business owner fined after skinning and butchering wild game in his garden
The owner of a barbecue grill event business who skinned and butchered wild boar and other game in his back garden has been fined by a district judge.
Published: Friday, 22nd November 2024 -
Council ready for winter with new vehicles and 2,000 tonnes of salt
Eight new gritting vehicles will be on standby to deal with the worst of the weather as Swindon Borough Council makes its final preparations in the run-up to the winter months.
Published: Monday, 14th October 2024 -
Building company director given two-year suspended prison sentence
A ‘rogue builder’ who carried out substandard building work and left some work incomplete has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence.
Published: Friday, 30th August 2024 -
Councillors call for Thames Water to answer questions on its performance
Burst water mains, flooding, and sewage being pumped into local waterways are just some of the issues councillors want to question Thames Water about at their next meeting.
Published: Thursday, 21st March 2024 -
Butchers to stay shut after severe rat infestation discovered
A town centre butchers will remain shut after Swindon Borough Council’s Environmental Health team found a large rat infestation during the course of a food hygiene inspection.
Published: Monday, 11th March 2024 -
Swindon ‘cowboy builder’ given eight-month suspended prison sentence
A ‘cowboy builder’ who carried out sub-standard building works and left some work incomplete has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence.
Published: Tuesday, 27th February 2024 -
‘Conman’ rogue trader jailed for defrauding elderly couple
A rogue trader who defrauded an elderly Swindon couple has been jailed for three years and four months at Swindon Crown Court.
Published: Friday, 15th December 2023 -
Two Swindon shops caught selling e-cigarettes to an underage child
E-cigarettes were sold to an underage child in Swindon following a Trading Standards-led operation.
Published: Tuesday, 5th December 2023 -
Swindon store to remain closed following severe rat infestation
A grocery store in Broadgreen will remain closed after Swindon Borough Council’s Environmental Health team discovered a significant rat infestation during a routine food hygiene inspection.
Published: Thursday, 30th November 2023 -
Court shuts down home BBQ food business
A man who was skinning and butchering wild game in his garden for his barbecue grill event business, has been ordered to cease trading by Swindon magistrates.
Published: Friday, 17th November 2023 -
Rogue builder who scammed Swindon residents jailed for 15 months
A Swindon builder who defrauded 18 victims in his home town and along the M4 corridor has been jailed for 15 months.
Published: Friday, 3rd November 2023 -
Venues prepare for plastic ban this October
Venues owned and operated by Swindon Borough Council are preparing for the England-wide ban on single-use plastics, which comes into effect from October.
Published: Friday, 21st July 2023 -
Solar Together scheme offers cost-effective solar panel and battery storage installation for residents and businesses
Households and businesses across Wiltshire and Swindon have the opportunity to save on energy bills and generate their own electricity.
Published: Monday, 12th June 2023 -
Council works with Police to help clamp down on knife crime
There is still work to do to prevent knives and bladed items from falling into the hands of young people in Swindon.
Published: Tuesday, 23rd May 2023 -
Pop-up eatery hit with hygiene order
A pop-up food stall at the Swindon Designer Outlet has been hit with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order after being found to be using unsafe cooking practices.
Published: Friday, 14th April 2023 -
Hotel company and director fined thousands for health and safety non compliance
A Swindon hotel company and its director were fined more than £8,000 after failing to comply with a health and safety improvement notice.
Published: Wednesday, 5th April 2023 -
Extension of green partnership to go before Swindon Council’s Cabinet
A partnership, which has created forest meadows and wildlife corridors across Swindon, could be extended under plans to go before councillors.
Published: Thursday, 9th March 2023 -
Council’s Cabinet to discuss Swindon’s green agenda
Senior councillors will be asked to approve plans to progress the Council’s contribution to the climate emergency at Wednesday’s (8 March) Cabinet meeting.
Published: Monday, 6th March 2023 -
Swindon logistics firm fined £125,000 for serious health and safety breaches
A multi-national logistics firm in Swindon admitted failing to keep its employees safe at a hearing at Swindon Crown Court yesterday (9 Feb).
Published: Friday, 10th February 2023 -
Kebab shop owner given suspended prison sentence for food hygiene offences
A kebab and pizza takeaway owner, whose shop was closed earlier this year after Swindon Borough Council’s environmental health officers discovered what they described as one of the worst cockroach infestations they had ever seen, has been handed a four-month suspended prison sentence.
Published: Friday, 16th December 2022 -
Kebab shop owner banned from operating any food business
The owner of a kebab and pizza takeaway, whose shop was closed due to a severe cockroach infestation earlier this year, has been banned from operating any food business.
Published: Friday, 18th November 2022 -
Swindon kebab shop forced to remain closed following cockroach infestation
A Manchester Road kebab and pizza shop will remain closed after cockroaches were “scuttling around the premises on the floor, shelving and food preparation areas”.
Published: Thursday, 28th April 2022 -
Homeowners warned to be on alert as builder fraud increases
Homeowners in Swindon are being warned to be aware of rogue builders following a rise in the number of building fraud claims across the South West.
Published: Monday, 25th April 2022 -
Six Swindon shops caught selling E-Cigarettes to underage children
E-cigarettes were sold to under age children in Swindon following a Trading Standards-led operation.
Published: Friday, 22nd April 2022 -
Illegal tobacco seized in Swindon during joint operation
Illegal tobacco worth more than £81,700 was seized following a national joint operation in Swindon last week.
Published: Thursday, 24th March 2022 -
Work underway to bring University of Bath's iCAST facility to historic Carriage Works
Work is well underway to bring the historic Carriage Works back into use.
Published: Wednesday, 9th February 2022 -
Energy at home: everything residents need to know
Swindon Borough Council and the Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) will join forces this Thursday (11 November) for a Facebook Live Q and A to answer residents’ queries about home energy use.
Published: Monday, 8th November 2021 -
Council helps residents to Be the Change with the installation of new electric vehicle charging points across Swindon
As world leaders gather together to discuss how they will tackle climate change at COP26 in Glasgow, Swindon Borough Council has taken its own small step towards reducing vehicle emissions in the town
Published: Wednesday, 3rd November 2021 -
Council tackles fly-tipping in the Borough
Swindon Borough Council is cracking down on fly-tipping in the Borough with a refreshed approach to catching culprits.
Published: Friday, 10th September 2021 -
Swindon to host key event as part of national Zero Carbon Tour
Next month (September), Swindon Borough Council will host a local event for businesses from across the Borough, as part of a 12-week Zero Carbon Tour across the UK, ahead of (COP26) in Glasgow.
Published: Thursday, 12th August 2021 -
Tree planting underway at Highworth’s Pentylands Country Park
Thousands of trees are being planted at Highworth Countryside Park as part of England’s Community Forests’ Trees for Climate programme.
Published: Friday, 19th March 2021 -
Residents asked to contribute to Council plans to reduce the borough’s carbon footprint
Local people are being asked to give feedback on the Council’s ambitious Carbon Reduction Strategy, which looks to make Council operations carbon neutral by 2030.
Published: Wednesday, 18th November 2020 -
Swindon awarded funding for new electric vehicle charging points
Swindon is set to benefit from 22 new electric vehicle charging point parking bays thanks to a successful bid for government funding submitted by the Council.
Published: Monday, 19th October 2020 -
Council unveils plans to be carbon neutral by 2030
Ambitious plans to make Swindon Borough Council carbon neutral within 10 years will be presented to councillors next week (21 Oct).
Published: Friday, 16th October 2020 -
Council staff are recognised for their industry-leading work in emerging technology
Tech-savvy employees at Swindon Borough Council achieved a podium finish in a prestigious national award after implementing innovative technology to improve the Council’s response to fly-tipping.
Published: Friday, 16th October 2020 -
Council works with energy companies to deliver solar offsetting for Swindon
A special scheme that will see almost a quarter of Swindon Borough Council’s electricity consumption being generated by solar power has been launched.
Published: Monday, 28th September 2020 -
Council and fire service urge residents to avoid bonfires
Swindon Borough Council and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are urging residents to avoid lighting bonfires during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published: Thursday, 9th April 2020 -
Furniture company fined almost £400,000 for serious health and safety breaches
The parent company of Swindon-based Oak Furnitureland has been fined nearly £400,000 for failing to protect its employees from hazardous and explosive conditions at its premises in Cheney Manor Industrial Estate.
Published: Wednesday, 4th March 2020 -
Council commits to carbon neutrality by 2030
Swindon Borough Council has committed to going carbon neutral by 2030 as councillors step up the fight against climate change.
Published: Friday, 24th January 2020
