Event series supporting local businesses during road closure kicks off
About 8,000 cars a day currently have to divert around Devizes Road
A brand-new family festival is kicking off an event series in Old Town today.
The so-called Sunday Socials aim to support the area's independent businesses that are affected by a three-month closure of Devizes Road.
The road fully closed to all through traffic on 21 July to allow Wales & West Utilities to carry out improvements to the gas network.
Kris Talikowski, Chair of the Old Town Business Association, told Greatest Hits Radio: “We've put in place two things. One is a pavement licence that will be applicable all the time as of Thursday, 24 July, so businesses will have a little designated space on the road for them to put extra seating and tables and chairs, so their customers can sit outside for the first time, which is great. So we've got 9 businesses that have got pavement licences that the Council has kindly provided free of charge to enable.
“The second thing is, we run street events across the year anyway in Old Town, usually on Wood Street, because we were able to close Wood Street on Sundays. So, we thought what would be better is to try and create three large August events during the bit of the work where the diggers will be down one end of Devizes Road.
“So, on both Wood Street and Devizes Road for the first, middle and last Sunday in August, we're running different street events to draw an even bigger crowd to what will be a pedestrianised Devizes Road for the first time and Wood Street, which is a well-recognised road that we run our street events on.
“So, we think the ability to run a Sunday Street event on both those roads will be something completely unique and exciting.”
The family festival will feature games, pavement chalk art, craft tents and creative workshops as well as funfair rides and live music.
Food trucks and a local makers’ market will also be presenting their goods alongside the Devizes Road shops.
In two weeks’ time, on 17 August, a Beer & Country Festival with live Americana and folk bands, craft beer bars and garden games will be lining the streets of Old Town and on the last Sunday of the month, 31 August, the area’s traditional Street Food Festival will expand to Devizes Road for the first time.
“I'm really happy and glad that Old Town as a community and wider Swindon support our events and we would encourage people to come out and get involved in the two new events as well as our Street Foods Festival that normally runs.
“We usually have around 6,000 or 7,000 visitors for the Street Foods Festival, so I'm hoping that's going to be as popular this year. But the two new events, the Family Festival and the Beer and Country Festival are completely new to us”, explained Mr. Talikowski.
“But I'm hoping Old Town should decide to come out and for what is a completely free event to the public. Other than buying the food and drink, you don't have to pay anything to attend – it's all completely free.”
The events have been made possible by Wales & West Utilities, who, according to Mr. Talikowski, provided “vital support” to ensure they could take place.
“We’re immensely grateful”, he said.
Ross Gregory, External Affairs Manager for Wales & West Utilities added: “We understand the pressure roadworks put on local high streets. That’s why we’re proud to support this community response, helping to keep Devizes Road buzzing throughout the summer, while our team delivers essential gas infrastructure upgrades.”
Devizes Road is set to re-open on 10 October.