Swindon residents are being asked to help shape the future of the town’s walking and cycling network, as the Council opens a lengthy consultation on an updated Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan.
The refreshed plan, published today, sets out 25 proposed schemes intended to make getting around the Borough on foot or by bike safer, simpler and far more appealing over the next decade. Some of these ideas are completely new, others have been adapted following feasibility work, and a handful of earlier suggestions have been dropped after proving unworkable.
One of the most eye-catching proposals is the creation of a Northern Flyer route, a long-awaited missing piece that would connect the town centre with Tadpole Garden Village and the expanding northern developments. If delivered, it would complete the set of Flyer-branded corridors already familiar to regular riders — the Eastern, Southern and Western routes — forming a network that genuinely starts to knit the town together.
There are also plans to stitch the Southern Flyer into the newly completed cycling infrastructure on Fleming Way and Holbrook Way, creating a cleaner, more continuous path through areas that have long felt disjointed.
The Council says the consultation is the moment for residents, campaigners and casual walkers alike to speak up. Public feedback will help shape which schemes should be prioritised as and when grants become available, particularly the national pots that increasingly reward towns with clear, well-supported plans.
The LCWIP sits neatly within the Council’s broader ambitions to build a Fairer, Better and Greener Swindon — tying into the Local Transport Plan and the impending Decarbonisation Framework that councillors will consider next week.
Councillor Chris Watts, Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said the update builds on work started in 2022 and is intended to deliver a network people actually want to use.
“This plan lays out a vision for a safer, more inclusive and more practical set of routes,” he said. “If we want walking and cycling to become natural, everyday choices — whether for travel, fitness or fun — we have to involve the people who know these streets best. I’d encourage anyone with an interest to take part. We’re listening, and this consultation helps ensure we’re ready to move quickly when funding opportunities arrive.”
The consultation runs for 13 weeks, closing on 20 February 2026. Residents can study the proposals and submit ideas or comments through an online survey.
