Commercial Road parking decision remains under review, review of review also under review

"It is understood the evidence is being reviewed thoroughly enough that some of it now qualifies for its own historical plaque."

Swindon Borough Council says it still cannot confirm when it will decide the future of Commercial Road's parking trial, nearly eight months after the road was reduced from two lanes to one in March to make way for roughly 35 short stay bays and two disabled spaces, offering free parking for 20 minutes or an hour respectively.

The 18 month trial included a six month public consultation, which closed on 18 September 2025. A Reform UK survey of 169 residents, businesses and drivers found 60.9 per cent wanted the old layout back, citing congestion, visibility and pavement parking. Councillors voted in August to fold that survey into the official review. At last week's Full Council meeting, cabinet member for highways Cllr Nick Gardiner said the evidence, which now includes traffic data, bus operator feedback and regeneration comments, would be carefully considered before any decision, with ward councillors reviewing findings ahead of a technical assessment. No date has been set.

It is understood the evidence is being reviewed thoroughly enough that some of it now qualifies for its own historical plaque. Officials stress nothing will be rushed, in keeping with the road's existing one lane, which has never rushed anything either.

Brenda Pask, 72, of Old Town, who has lived there since before it was old, said she had parked in one of the 20 minute bays purely to see what all the fuss was about. 'I bought a tin of custard and a stamp and still had eleven minutes left over,' she said. 'In my day the council decided these things over a pint and a show of hands. Now it's surveys about surveys. I'm not one to gossip, but number four reckons they'll resurface the road before anyone's actually allowed to say whether they like it.'

Gary Tench, Area Manager at Tench Paper Solutions in Westlea, said the situation had given him a new way of describing his firm's own paper reduction pilot, now in its nineteenth month of evidence gathering with no decision in sight. 'We call it an evidence led journey,' he said. 'Ironically, the whole report's printed out. Julie says that's not ironic, it's just wasteful, but I think she's missing the bigger picture, which is also printed out, twice.'

Resurfacing works on Commercial Road are already planned for early next year, meaning the tarmac itself may be renewed before anyone decides what should be painted on top of it.