Residents, businesses and councillors are joining Swindon Borough Council teams for the Big Town Centre Clean-Up, which involves two weeks of intensive work.
The first volunteer session was held on Monday 17th August, with participants litter-picking along Canal Walk and The Parade.
Volunteers also cleared vegetation near Fleming Way, while future sessions will include restoring benches and revitalising flower beds.
The volunteer effort is taking place alongside work by council teams throughout August.
Workers are repairing damaged paving, removing graffiti, power-washing pavements and clearing weeds from areas across the town centre.
The Golden Lion statue has also been restored as part of the programme.
The council says the initiative involves intensifying existing services and targeting resources at work expected to make the greatest visual difference.
More than 85 per cent of the council’s budget is spent on essential statutory services, including adult and children’s social care.
The authority has also stressed that responsibility for the condition of the town centre does not rest solely with the council.
Around 95 per cent of land and buildings in central Swindon are privately owned, with commercial property owners and landlords being urged to address maintenance issues on their sites.
Cllr Kevin Parry, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Recycling and Streetscene, joined volunteers during the first session.
He said:
“It was fantastic to attend today’s session to welcome the first group of volunteers and join them in getting stuck to making a visible difference to our town centre.
“The response from the community has been incredible, with more than 230 volunteer places booked across the programme. It shows how much people care about Swindon and their willingness to get involved in improving the places we all share.
“The Big Town Centre Clean-Up brings together volunteers, local businesses, community groups and the Council. By working together, we can achieve far more than any one organisation could on its own.”
The initiative forms part of a wider council effort to put pressure on private property owners over the condition of buildings and land in central Swindon.
People can still register to take part in the Big Town Centre Clean-Up through the event’s booking page.
