📑 July 2025 Priory Community Update

What have we been doing in the Priory Vale Community

📑 July 2025 Priory Community Update

Throughout July, your Priory Vale team: Alex Hughes, Vinay Manro and Leanne Stevenson – remained visible and focused. They continued to challenge poor decisions, support community priorities, and deliver improvements that matter to residents.

✔ Spoke out against the downgrading of play standards in a new development

✔ Secured approved improvements to Elstree Way roundabout

✔ Opposed the cancellation of weed spraying at parish level

✔ Supported successful funding bids for local organisations

✔ Promoted early learning through the Summer Reading Challenge

✔ Reported highways and footpath defects

✔ Strengthened access to community venues

✔ Challenged risks to SEND transport

✔ Promoted biodiversity through community-led events

➡️ Alex Hughes

Alex continues to work with residents and local groups to support community priorities and ensure concerns are followed up.

She promoted the Summer Reading Challenge to encourage early learning and family literacy, helping connect more families with local library services.

She volunteered at the Swindon Supermarine vs Swindon Town fixture, supporting grassroots sport and community involvement.

Alex works to ensure access to local community venues, enabling a wider range of inclusive activities to take place across Priory Vale.

She also submitted footpath safety reports following local inspections, helping to identify hazards and promote safer public spaces for all.

➡️ Vinay Manro

Vinay Manro spoke out after a decision by Labour councillor Rob Heath was approved at Swindon Borough Council to lower play equipment standards in a local housing development.

He made clear that families in Priory Vale expect proper, safe, and lasting play spaces – not minimal provision treated as an afterthought.

He proposed and secured approval for pollinator-friendly, low-maintenance planting at Elstree Way roundabout. This practical and environmentally sustainable improvement was supported by Haydon Wick Parish Council and seconded by Cllr Leanne Stevenson.

Vinay also opposed Labour councillor Paul Park’s proposal to cancel weed spraying at the parish level and redirect the funding elsewhere. With Swindon Borough Council having already withdrawn its service, he made clear that parishes must listen to residents and continue essential street scene work. Maintaining safe and clean public spaces remains a clear priority for the community.

He supported successful grant applications from the Roxi Foundation, Draycott Sports Camp and Community First Responders, helping to strengthen youth provision, wellbeing and local emergency support.

Vinay joined the Mouldon Hill bat walk, organised by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Haydon Wick Council, and attended the family picnic at Luna Park to promote the value of safe, shared green spaces for all ages.

He continues to report road and pavement defects raised by residents and press for timely maintenance and safety improvements.

➡️ Leanne Stevenson

Leanne Stevenson raised strong concerns about proposals to withdraw transport for 16 to 18 year olds with special educational needs and disabilities. She is working with councillors across Swindon to protect access to education and ensure families are not left without vital support.

She has also raised concern about the downgrade of play equipment in new local parks following a decision by Swindon Borough Council. She believes all children deserve access to safe, high-quality outdoor spaces and continues to support residents pushing for proper investment in new developments.

Leanne took part in the Big Butterfly Count and joined the Mouldon Hill bat walk, working with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Haydon Wick Council to raise awareness of local biodiversity and the importance of connecting people with nature.

She attended the Luna Park family picnic and the Swindon Supermarine vs Swindon Town match, recognising the importance of accessible, local events in bringing residents together.

She seconded the proposal for improvements at Elstree Way roundabout, helping to deliver a practical and environmentally friendly design.

Following visits to Seven Fields and Mouldon Hill, she reported hazardous ground conditions and called for action to improve safety and accessibility in green spaces.

She continues to carry out footpath inspections and report issues to ensure that pavements and paths across Priory Vale remain safe and accessible to all.

➡️ Tell Us What Matters

If something in your area needs attention – whether it is a local issue, footpath concern or community request – please get in touch.

Your Priory Vale team is here to help and will continue working hard for our community.