NEW low-energy LED lights being installed across Swindon produce the softest light of all available and are not harmful to health, the council says. Its cabinet member for highways Maureen Penny, who is overseeing the £7m project to replace the boroughs 28,000 streetlamps, said lower intensity bulbs have been deliberately chosen. The authority has faced criticism for the brightness of new lights around the town, which have upset some residents. Coun Penny said these lights will be dimmable using a control system but only when the replacement scheme is completed, which is scheduled for November. She spoke out following a report by charity LightAware, which says too many councils are using lights with a lot of blue .
Mead Way has been closed for roadworks since March 2020 LONG-RUNNING roadworks on Mead Way are finally set to finish in late June – more than 15 months after they started. The £4m upgrade of one of the major routes connecting homes in North and West Swindon with the town centre began just before the coronavirus pandemic took hold. Work that started in early March 2020 was expected to last three months but it is still going on – to the dismay of neighbours, councillors and business owners. Unexpected issues with pipes under the road and the Covid-19 lockdown have been blamed for the hold-up.