Council set to consider register to name roads after local service personnel
Swindon Borough Council will debate two cross‑party motions that seek to increase recognition of the town’s armed forces community and review how the authority supports serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families as an employer.
The first motion proposes the creation of a Swindon Veterans Naming Register. If approved by Full Council and developed further, the register would identify veterans and fallen service personnel who have a clear connection to the borough and whose names could be used for future roads and streets in new developments such as New Eastern Villages and Wichelstowe.
Eligibility for the register would require a combination of military service and a strong link to Swindon, which might include being born in the town, having lived in the borough or other significant connections. The register would cover those who have lost their lives in service and those who have made a notable contribution during their Armed Forces careers.
“Honouring those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars, as well as in conflicts throughout our nation’s history, is not only a mark of respect but a duty we owe to those who served,”
The words of Reform UK councillor Andrew Cripps, who proposed the naming register, set out the rationale for the change. He said the scheme would allow names to become a permanent part of the town’s history so that “future generations will see their names every day, ask who they were, and, through modern technology, be able to learn about the lives they lived and the service they gave.”
Verification, partnerships and next steps
The motion envisages close working with established organisations to verify nominations before any name is added to the register. Partners named in the proposal include the Royal British Legion, Swindon Heritage and the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre. Both the naming register and the employment‑focused motion were brought forward by councillors across party lines and would be worked up further if Full Council gives them initial approval.
- Proposed register: identify local veterans and fallen personnel with strong Swindon links for road naming.
- Employment motion: explore how the authority can better support serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families as an employer.
- Next stage: motions to be considered by Full Council and developed further if approved.
Who moved the motions
The proposals were tabled by councillors from Reform UK and the Conservative group. Details of the proposers and seconders are shown in the table below.
| Motion | Proposer | Seconder |
|---|---|---|
| Swindon Veterans Naming Register | Andrew Cripps (Reform UK) | Alex Hughes (Conservative) |
| Council employment support for Armed Forces community | Leanne Stevenson (Conservative) | Simon Howard (Reform UK) |
Councillors backing the motions say the proposals are about remembrance and ensuring Swindon recognises those with a local connection who served, while also looking at practical support and workplace policies that could benefit the armed forces community.
If Full Council agrees to take the motions forward, officers will be asked to work up the proposals and consult with the named organisations before any names are placed on a register or changes to employment practice are implemented. At this stage the measures are proposals only and would require further development and approval before taking effect.
For Swindon, where new housing and streets continue to reshape the town, the register would formalise a process to enshrine local service and sacrifice into the built environment — a visible form of remembrance that would appear on everyday maps and street signs for generations of residents.
