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Coate (Badbury Park) Residents Working Group

Information Voting in the Forthcoming Elections – 7 May 2026

Badbury Park Residents: What You Need to Know

Residents of Badbury Park, Eldene and Liden will be voting in two local elections on Thursday 7 May 2026:

  • Swindon Borough Council (SBC)
  • South Swindon Parish Council (SSPC)

1️⃣ Swindon Borough Council Election (SBC)

You will vote for three candidates to represent the Badbury Park, Eldene and Liden Ward.

Borough councillors are responsible for key services across Swindon, including:

  • Education and schools
  • Adult and children’s social care
  • Highways and transport
  • Waste and recycling collections
  • Planning and the council budget

2️⃣ South Swindon Parish Council Election (SSPC)

Badbury Park residents will also elect one Parish Councillor for the new Badbury Park Ward within SSPC.

However, unlike many areas, Badbury Park has a Management Company (once land transfer is complete), meaning:

  • The Parish Council does not provide local services on the estate
  • Residents must still pay the Parish precept
  • This is in addition to Management Company fees

This situation is often described as “double taxation.”

Questions Residents May Wish to Ask Candidates

Residents may want to ask Parish Council candidates:

“What can you do to reduce the additional costs caused by both the parish precept and management fees?”

Candidates should be able to discuss options such as:

  • Introducing a discount on the parish precept for Badbury Park
  • Exploring becoming a non-parished area through a Community Governance Review
  • Having SSPC take responsibility for:
    • Play areas
    • Litter bins
  • Addressing why two parish councils with different precepts exist and how this could be resolved

The Parish Boundary Issue

Badbury Park is currently split between two parish councils, resulting in residents paying different amounts depending on where they live.

Current Band D Precept Rates:

  • South Swindon Parish Council (SSPC): £190.40
  • Liddington Parish: £105.17
  • Eldene & Liden Ward: £82.80

➡️ Difference: up to £107.60 per year

Example – Band F:

  • SSPC: £275.02
  • Liddington: £151.92
  • Eldene & Liden: £119.61

➡️ Difference: up to £156 per year

This means households on the same development can pay significantly different amounts purely due to parish boundaries.

Why This Happens

This is due to a historic boundary anomaly, where the development was built across two parish areas.

A potential solution would be a Community Governance Review by Swindon Borough Council to:

  • Align Badbury Park under a single parish
  • Create a fair and consistent precept for all residents

If more responsibilities (such as play areas and open spaces) were transferred to the Parish Council, it could also reduce reliance on the management company and potentially lower overall costs.

🗓️ Election Day: Thursday 7 May 2026

Swindon Borough Council

Badbury Park, Eldene and Liden Ward

Conservative Party

  • Bazil Solomon
  • Sally Hawson
  • Zach Hawson

Labour Party

  • Mike Davies
  • Marianne Le Coyte-Grinney
  • Dr Rebecca Banwell-Moore

Liberal Democrats

  • Charles Malcom Salmon

Green Party

  • Jane Emma Brits
  • Mark Adrian Russell

Reform UK

  • Martin Costello
  • Simon Howard
  • Gerald Rogers

South Swindon Parish Council

Badbury Park Ward

  • Conservative: Sally Hawson
  • Labour: Dr Rebecca Banwell-Moore
  • Green: Mark Adrian Russell

✅ Key Takeaway

Badbury Park residents now have:

  • Their own Parish Ward
  • A direct voice in both borough and parish elections

Your vote is an opportunity to help shape how local representation, services, and taxation develop in your community.

Contact Information

https://e-voice.org.uk/badburypark/

coatebadburypark@gmail.com

Biddestone Avenue
Swindon
Wiltshire