Category: general

Santa’s visit to East Wichel

On the evening of Thursday 19th December, Santa visited East Wichel, assisted by the Wiltshire Agricultural Preservation Group, bringing an hour of fun and excitement for many of our younger residents.

Council seeks opinions on new sports hub

A new Wichelstowe Sports Hub is set be built between East Wichel and Middle Wichel, and Swindon Borough Council is asking residents for their opinions. The sports hub is mainly funded by contributions from the developer of Middle and West Wichel, which is a joint venture between Swindon Borough Council and Barratt Developments. The hub

Changed recycling collections from 27 November

East Wichel and Wichelstowe will be amongst the first in the borough to experience Swindon Borough Council’s new recycling collections. These add food waste to what the council will collect for recycling, but drop textiles. Starting on Monday 27th November, with the exception of flats that have a communal collection, the whole of Wichelstowe and

Towpath closures ahead as work on canal continues

The Wichelstowe Joint Venture has revealed the next stages in its work to find and fix the leaks in the canal at East Wichel. Despite several years of investigations so far, and attempts to stop the leaks, both aqueducts on the canal continue to lose water. Starting next week, from 20th March, and continuing for

Christmas 2022 and New Year 2023 services

The following services will operate in East Wichel over the Christmas and New Year period. The Stowe Church Christmas Encounter Sunday 18th December from 11 am to 12.30 pm at The StoweAway. With a community ‘nativity’ brunch and chance to meet Jesus in the stable. Carols and Christmas Quiz Wednesday 21st December from 7.45 pm at The Wichel

Business and service changes on Monday 19 September

Several businesses and services provided in Wichelstowe will be changing their operating hours on Monday 19th September 2022. This is to allow their staff to pay their respects during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. These are the changes we are aware of – we’ll add any other changes to the page as we become

Council starts work plugging the East Wichel canal leak

Over three years since the council and canal trust started investigating the leak in the canal in East Wichel, work has finally started on plugging the hole. Swindon Borough Council started working with the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust to find the leak in August 2018. An initial tender by the canal trust for contractors

Parish council plans for a thicket of trees

South Swindon Parish Council have been approached by Earthwatch UK with a proposal to create a thicket — which Earthwatch brand a ‘Tiny Forest’ — in an area near to the East Wichel play park. The proposal would involve planting 600 trees in an area the size of a tennis court. The idea is based

Christmas and New Year services

The following services will be available in East Wichel over the Christmas and New Year period. The Stowe Church Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December, 4.30pm to 5.30pm at The StoweAway. A traditional and peaceful start to Christmas. Waste and recycling collections Monday 23rd December and Christmas Eve, Tuesday 24th December The waste

Half Marathon road closures

Swindon Half Marathon is running this weekend on Sunday 22nd September. As in recent years, the race will go along Blackhorse Way, which will be closed eastbound from 8 am to 2 pm. Blackhorse Way will remain open westbound, towards Waitrose and Wootton Bassett Road, but the crossings out of East Wichel will be closed, except for

East Wichel fields set to become urban meadows

Two fields near East Wichel are one of twelve locations that will benefit from a project being run by Swindon Borough Council with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. The scheme, called the Forest Meadows Project, is funded with £80,000 over three years from developer contributions and other grants. The project is intended to give local community groups,

Christmas and New Year services

The following services will operate in East Wichel over the Christmas and New Year period. The Stowe Church Carols at the Bayberry Wednesday 19th December from 7pm, followed by Christmas pub quiz, and a raffle raising funds for R2K. This event is understood to be fully booked. Carols by Candlelight Christmas Eve, Monday 24th December,

Christmas and New Year municipal and transport services

Swindon Borough Council and local bus companies have the following changes to their services in East Wichel over Christmas and the New Year. The waste and recycling collection that would otherwise be on Christmas Day (mainly for those living to the north of East Wichel Way) will be done at some time between Wednesday 27

Swindon council to build canal-side terraces

In a move unusual for a council, Swindon Borough Council has announced that it intends to build houses beside the canal in Middle Wichel, rather than using a commercial developer. The houses will be in terraces which they say take inspiration from Swindon’s heritage, such as the GWR Railway Village in Swindon town centre. The

Changed days for waste and recycling collections

From the end of October Swindon Borough Council is changing the days of waste and recycling collections. Starting from 31st October waste and recycling collections (wheelie bins and orange or black boxes) will be be split across two days. Properties to the north of East Wichel Way (the side closest to the school) will have collections

Municipal services for Christmas and New Year

Waste and Recycling The next waste and recycling collections in East Wichel will be on Thursday 31th December, as usual, though collections may be a little later than usual. Real (not artificial) Christmas trees will be collected if left out on the normal waste collection day after festivities are over (Thursday 14th January). All decorations

Wichelstowe homes damaged by lightning

Shortly before 2 am today, a block of flats on East Wichel Way was struck by lightning. A chimney was damaged and a hole blown in the roof. A fire also started. The family from the top flat were checked by ambulance crews at the scene. Families have been evacuated from the flats to a

The not-so-ugly cygnet

A duckling that has been adopted by a family of swans and cygnets is getting lots of attention from passing walkers in East Wichel. The adult swans are very protective of their brood, including the duckling which had been abandoned by its rightful parents.