Street names sought to celebrate town's heritage

Residents are being encouraged to come up with street names for new housing developments, that celebrate a town's heritage.

Swindon Borough Council (SBC) says it is "keen to ensure that the names of streets and public spaces reflect the history, culture and identity of Swindon's communities".

It has invited parish councils, community organisations, community leaders and local heritage groups to submit suggestions for new names.

Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for placemaking and planning, said: "Street names become part of people's lives for generations, so choosing them thoughtfully matters."

"We want new developments in Swindon to feel rooted in the character and history of our communities and places," she added.

"Local people, parish councils and heritage groups hold a huge wealth of knowledge about the stories and identities that make each part of Swindon unique.

"By working together, we can ensure that future neighbourhoods celebrate that richness and honour it for years to come."

Groups are being asked to include a short explanation of the historical or community significance of each proposed name, along with any supporting references or information.

More than 3,000 streets across the borough are named after famous engineers from Swindon's railway past, former Swindon Town footballers and old landmarks that no longer exist.

Long time Swindon postman Paul Gibbons said that he thought it was a "brilliant initiative".

"There are lots of developments going up around Swindon - I think it's just great."

He said that he took pride in delivering to addresses that referenced the town's history, such as the Great Western Way.

He added he would like to see modern Swindonians recognised, suggesting names like "the Nick Hewer development, Don Rogers Crescent and the Hempleman-Adams estate," to honour the Apprentice star, the former footballer and the polar explorer.

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