Labour Council Spending £440,000 to Guard Empty Road in Swindon
Swindon Borough Council spends £440,000 to secure an unused road after the construction firm went bust, aiming to prevent joy riders.
Swindon, England, Labour Council, Southern Connector Road, Buckingham Group
The Southern Connector Road will connect South Marston to the Commonhead roundabout. It’s part of the New Eastern Villages development, which plans to build 8,000 homes. The road will be guarded until mid-2026.
Councillor Chris Watts said they can’t let this drag on. The council is paying for repairs before seeking compensation. The road is currently owned by Grant Thornton, the administrator, who wants the council to pay for its completion.
However, the council argues the road isn’t fit for use. It needs repairs, including fixing a loose surface and a bridge with a crack. Mr. Watts warned that these repairs won’t be cheap.
The council and Grant Thornton inspected the road and found issues with surfacing, embankments, and safety. Mr. Watts mentioned that the project has been stuck since he took over in June 2023, just after Buckingham collapsed.
He added that they have a duty to local residents to open the road for construction traffic. They aim to get part of the road open soon for developers to access their sites.
Grant Thornton recently requested an independent conflict administrator, which could cause more delays. A spokesperson for Grant Thornton said they are in talks with the local council to resolve the matter.