Peter Davison
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Local Democracy Reporter for Wiltshire. BBC funded, Swindon Advertiser based. Contact me at peter.davison@newsquest.co.uk
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Articles by Peter Davison
Hundreds object to batteries on 'Rivals' estate
Hundreds of objections have been lodged against proposals for a large battery storage facility on a country estate used to film hit TV drama Rivals. Renewable energy company Grenergy wants to build a 450MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on land at Neston Park Estate, near Corsham, Wiltshire, which is also home to Peter Gabriel's WOMAD festival. Concerns from locals over the 216 battery containers include fire safety and water contamination.
Work begins on Brabazon Park – the South West’s biggest new urban park in 50 years
Swindon & Wiltshire Property Thursday November 12 2026 Work has begun on Brabazon Park, a 15-acre public park and lake that will become the largest new urban park built in the South West for more than 50 years. The landmark scheme will bring a major new green space to North Bristol and form the gateway for visitors heading to the nearby Aviva Arena.
Bristol reveals winning visions for greener Harbourside
Swindon & Wiltshire Eco Thursday November 12 2026 A floating sauna overlooking St Mary Redcliffe, planted railway tracks and a tidal garden at Bathurst Basin are among three winning concepts chosen to reimagine Bristol’s underused Harbourside spaces. Bristol BID and Design West selected the ideas from more than 50 entries to their Big Green Ideas for Bristol Harbour competition.
90 year old lawyer honoured with lifetime achievement award
Swindon & Wiltshire Awards Thursday November 12 2026 Regional law firm Thrings has won a double at the 2026 Bristol Legal Awards, with veteran solicitor Jeremy Thring taking the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award and Sam Longmore named Junior Lawyer of the Year. The wins spotlight a firm whose talent spans almost seven decades of legal practice.
South West exporters defy global headwinds as four in 10 eye new markets
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Thursday November 12 2026 South West businesses are pressing ahead with international expansion despite tariffs, trade uncertainty and rising costs, with 41 per cent of firms that trade overseas planning to enter new export or import markets over the next one to three years. Just two per cent expect to scale back their international activity, according to new research from Lloyds.
New 30mph limit for bottom of Lyneham Banks in Wiltshire
The 40mph limit at the top of the road is set to stay Author: Peter Davison, Local Democracy Reporting ServicePublished 10 minutes ago A new 30mph speed limit is being brought in at the bottom of Lyneham Banks in north Wiltshire – despite calls for a lower limit on another part of the notorious road being rejected. The restriction on the B4069 at Dauntsey forms part of a wider shake-up of traffic controls around Lyneham Banks, where the road was rebuilt following its spectacular collapse in 2022.
South West businesses extend growth run as sales and confidence rise
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday November 11 2026 South West businesses have recorded a fourth consecutive month of growth, with stronger sales and improving confidence offering a welcome boost as firms head towards the end of the year. The latest NatWest South West Growth Tracker shows the region’s headline Business Activity Index held at 51.5 in October, signalling continued expansion in private-sector output.
Regional law firm Gardner Leader lands national responsible business award
Swindon & Wiltshire Governance Wednesday November 11 2026 Wiltshire and Berkshire law firm Gardner Leader has won a prestigious national award for its responsible business credentials, while one of its rising legal stars has been recognised on the national stage. The firm took home Excellence in Responsible Business at the LawNet Awards, which celebrate achievement among independent legal practices across the UK and Ireland.
Wiltshire firm marks a decade of paying the Real Living Wage
Swindon & Wiltshire Governance Wednesday November 11 2026 Trowbridge-based meals provider apetito / Wiltshire Farm Foods is celebrating 10 years as an accredited Living Wage employer, underlining a long-standing commitment to fair pay and investment in its workforce. The business, which employs around 2,000 people across the UK and is Trowbridge’s largest private employer, has held Real Living Wage accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation since 2016.
Manufacturers urged to seize £10,000 energy-efficiency funding before March deadline
Swindon & Wiltshire Manufacturing Wednesday November 11 2026 West of England manufacturers are being urged to cash in on up to £10,000 of grant funding to slash energy bills, cut carbon emissions and build a stronger case for future investment. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has launched the Made Smarter Energy Efficiency Grant, offering small and medium-sized manufacturers and production firms match funding to explore practical ways of using less energy in their operations.
Is your business actually growing, or are you just getting busier?
Swindon & Wiltshire Experts Wednesday November 11 2026 Author Name: Chris Spratling Real growth should create something: more profit, stronger cash generation, better capability, greater resilience, improved market position or more enterprise value, says Chris Spratling of Chalkhill Blue. Growth is one of the most misused words in business. ‘We’re growing,’ an owner tells me.
West’s metro mayor named one of TIME’s Top 100 climate leaders
Swindon & Wiltshire Awards Tuesday November 10 2026 The Mayor of the West of England has been named among TIME’s 100 most influential climate leaders of 2026—a global list recognising people driving measurable, successful and equitable climate action. She joins Prince William, actor Benedict Cumberbatch, basketball star Russell Westbrook, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, and United Nations secretary-general António Guterres on the list.
Cow & Sow founders open new farmshop
Swindon & Wiltshire Property Tuesday November 10 2026 Husband-and-wife team Mark and Amy Warburton have opened The Field Farmshop & Kitchen, a new farm shop, café, bar and restaurant in Flax Bourton, just outside Bristol. The venue, which launched on Thursday 22 October, occupies a site formerly home to the Dew Drop Inn and The Jubilee, which had been closed for more than three years. Mark Warburton is also the founder of premium steakhouse brand Cow & Sow.
West of England innovators to share £8.5m investment
Swindon & Wiltshire Innovation Tuesday November 10 2026 Innovative businesses across the West of England are set to benefit from an additional £8.5m investment from the British Business Bank, delivered through its South West Investment Fund. The funding will unlock new equity investment for high-growth companies in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. It will be managed by South West Investment Fund equity fund manager Maven Capital Partners.
Just six per cent of businesses ready for major financial reporting overhaul
Swindon & Wiltshire Professional services Tuesday November 10 2026 Less than six per cent of businesses have completed implementation of revised FRS 102 requirements, according to a poll by accountancy firm Azets. The changes, which include new lease accounting rules and a five-step revenue recognition model, took effect for reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January this year. They will first apply to many companies with a 31 December 2026 financial year end.
Wiltshire businesses urged to say where jobs and commercial development should go
Swindon & Wiltshire Property Tuesday November 10 2026 Wiltshire businesses are being urged to complete a new survey that could shape where jobs, investment, and commercial development are supported across the county. The Wiltshire Business Land and Premises Survey 2026, run on behalf of Wiltshire Council, is part of work on the county’s new Local Plan. Firms of every size are being asked about their growth ambitions, premises needs and barriers to expansion.
PM visits Chippenham as Siemens opens £100m rail HQ and launches youth skills push
Swindon & Wiltshire Manufacturing Monday November 9 2026 Prime Minister Andy Burnham has visited Chippenham on Friday (November 6) to officially open Siemens Mobility’s new £100 million Rail Technology Centre, hailing the multi-million-pound headquarters as a major boost for the Wiltshire town and Britain’s rail industry.
‘Say What You Pay’: Government plans to force employers to reveal salaries in job ads
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday November 9 2026 Employers could soon be legally required to display salary information in job adverts, under Government plans to make pay transparency the norm and help jobseekers avoid wasting time on roles that do not pay enough. The proposed ‘say what you pay’ law would require employers to publish salaries in job advertisements, ending the familiar use of vague phrases such as “competitive salary” or “generous perks”.
Oxfam’s Christmas Ad Goes Live This Week, Created With Bristol’s Happy Hour
Swindon & Wiltshire Media Monday November 9 2026 Oxfam has launched its Christmas campaign ‘The List’ this week, with a moving new advert created in collaboration with Bristol-based creative agency Happy Hour. The 90-second film, which went live on Monday, reimagines the familiar Christmas wish list as a story of community, kindness and care. It follows nine-year-old Neel as he writes his list, attaches it to a balloon and releases it from the balcony of his South London flat.
Bristol IT firm marks a decade of growth
Swindon & Wiltshire People Monday November 9 2026 Bristol-based IT provider WestSpring IT is marking its 10th anniversary after growing from a two-person start-up into a 35-strong business supporting more than 100 clients across the UK. Founded in 2016 by Phil Cater and Jason Small, the firm set out to offer a more personal approach to IT support, built around long-term relationships and service quality.
International demand grows for generational communication expert
Swindon & Wiltshire News Monday November 9 2026 A generational communication expert based on the Wiltshire / Berkshire border is preparing for speaking engagements in Barcelona and Toronto, following a busy year which has seen him take to stages across the world. Alastair Greener, a keynote speaker and author, has been invited to speak at IBTM in Barcelona this November, followed by the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers conference in Toronto in December.
WW2 RAF hangars face demolition for 150 homes
Follow WW2 RAF hangars face demolition for 150 homes Peter Davison - Local Democracy Reporting Service Mon, November 9, 2026 at 9:25 AM EST RAF Colerne served as a satellite airfield during the Battle of Britain [LDRS] Three World War Two RAF hangars could be demolished under controversial plans to build up to 150 homes on a former airfield site. RAF Colerne in Wiltshire served as a satellite airfield during the Battle of Britain, helping Spitfire and Hurricane fighter squadrons defend Bristol.
Probe after 'refuse worker's Snapchat requests'
Follow Probe after 'refuse worker's Snapchat requests' Peter Davison - Local Democracy Reporting Service; Matty Edwards - West of England Fri, November 6, 2026 at 1:38 AM EST Wiltshire Council has referred the potential data breach to the Information Commissioner's Office [Peter Davison] A refuse worker is being investigated over a potential data breach after allegedly using a young woman's personal details to contact her repeatedly on social media.
Bristol Light Festival unveils 2027 spectacular after £11.49m economic boost
Swindon & Wiltshire Culture Thursday November 5 2026 Bristol Light Festival will return in February with giant glowing flowers, an interactive inflatable campfire and a towering illuminated figure, building on an event that delivered an estimated £11.49m boost to the city’s economy this year. Organised by Bristol BID, the free festival attracted around 200,000 visitors in 2026, with its estimated economic impact rising four per cent on the previous year.
Bath Uni breaks ground on 926-bed Passivhaus student village
Swindon & Wiltshire Eco Thursday November 5 2026 Construction is underway on a 926-bed Passivhaus student village at the University of Bath, one of the UK’s most ambitious sustainable student housing schemes and a major step towards housing every first-year undergraduate on campus. The development, taking shape on the eastern edge of the university’s Claverton Down campus, will combine en-suite cluster flats with townhouse-style living.
Somerset factory to host UK’s largest single-roof solar array
Swindon & Wiltshire Eco Thursday November 5 2026 One of Britain’s biggest beverage manufacturing sites is set to become home to the UK’s largest solar installation on a single continuous roof, in a landmark 21.5MWp renewable energy programme spanning four factories.
Phillips Medisize buys Chippenham site to power inhalation growth
Swindon & Wiltshire Property Thursday November 5 2026 A Wiltshire drug delivery specialist has secured full ownership of its Chippenham facility as it targets substantial growth in inhaled medicines over the next five years. Phillips Medisize, part of Molex, has acquired the complete footprint of its existing site, strengthening a UK research and manufacturing operation serving pharmaceutical customers worldwide.
21 brave the blaze in aid of Swindon’s domestic abuse charity
Swindon & Wiltshire Social Thursday November 5 2026 Twenty-one brave fundraisers took on fire, glass and the challenge of breaking an arrow as Society Without Abuse’s (SWA) Firewalk 2026 brought people together to raise awareness and vital funds to help end domestic abuse.
Firm hails success of Wallace & Gromit fundraiser
Swindon & Wiltshire Social Thursday November 5 2026 A fundraiser for that brought businesses, broadcasters and brain surgeons together to raise vital funds for seriously ill children and their families has been hailed a success by its headline sponsor. Family Adventures Group, based in Somerset, was headline sponsor of Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal’s Beat the Brain Surgeon event, held at the Bristol Grand Hotel on October 16.
Wiltshire lands the Air Tattoo, as £25m economic boost flies across the border
Swindon & Wiltshire Culture Wednesday November 4 2026 The Royal International Air Tattoo is leaving RAF Fairford after four decades and moving to MOD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire from 2027 – a relocation that shifts one of Britain’s biggest visitor events, and its multi-million-pound spending, across the Gloucestershire border.
Bristol and Bath set to turn tourist pounds into local investment
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday November 4 2026 Bristol and Bath’s visitor economy could receive a new funding stream after the government introduced legislation allowing metro mayors to charge a small levy on overnight stays – with the money required to stay in the West of England. The Visitor Levy Bill, introduced in the Commons today (November 4), would give local leaders the power to apply a percentage charge to accommodation costs rather than a flat fee.
Bristol refrigeration firm sold as cyber risk puts supermarket cold chains in focus
Swindon & Wiltshire M&A, deals Wednesday November 4 2026 Bristol-based Space Engineering has been sold to German refrigeration and ventilation group bluu unit, in a deal that gives the buyer its first UK platform — and puts the security of Britain’s supermarket cold chains under sharper scrutiny.
Law firm strengthens private client team with new partner hire
Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments Wednesday November 4 2026 Law firm Thrings has appointed a new partner to lead the firm’s private client team across its seven offices. Sonia Green joins from Moore Barlow, bringing almost three decades of experience in succession and tax law. During her career, she has built and grown private client teams across multiple offices and advises individuals, families and business owners on a wide range of succession planning, estate administration and tax matters.
The six-month clock: redesigning probation before January
Swindon & Wiltshire Experts Wednesday November 4 2026 Author Name: Dan Barfoot Probation is changing, and employers need to be aware says Dan Barfoot of CMD Recruitment For years, employers have had two years before new starters gained protection against ordinary unfair dismissal. From 1 January 2027, that window shrinks to six months. It’s one of the biggest changes in the Employment Rights Act 2025, and it changes how probation periods need to work.
Swindon businesses to vote on £2.5m plan to improve town centre
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Tuesday November 3 2026 Businesses in Swindon are to vote on plans for a new Business Improvement District that could bring around £2.5m of extra investment to the town centre and surrounding areas over five years. If approved, the BID would bring together businesses across the town centre, Old Town, the Railway Quarter and North Star.
Letting agent named among UK’s best after five national award wins
Swindon & Wiltshire Awards Tuesday November 3 2026 Letting agent Swindon Home Finders has been named best in county at the ESTAS Awards, while also taking silver in the UK Grand Prix for the best letting agent in the UK for tenant service. The Old Town-based agency collected five accolades at the industry’s customer service awards, held at Grosvenor House in London. The ESTAS are based on client reviews and recognise firms rated highly by the people they serve.
Wiltshire tech firm helps Ministry of Defence team win top cyber security award
Swindon & Wiltshire Awards Tuesday November 3 2026 Digital solutions experts from SA Group have helped a Ministry of Defence team win one of the department’s highest honours for its work strengthening cyber security across the defence supply chain. The Cyber Resilience Programme’s Supply Chain Security team received a Three-Star Defence Commendation after launching Cyber Security Model v4, a new service designed to help the MOD identify and reduce cyber risks among its suppliers.
Specialist drilling firms join forces in strategic takeover
Swindon & Wiltshire M&A, deals Tuesday November 3 2026 A specialist drilling business has acquired a rival in a strategic takeover designed to expand its national reach and strengthen its position across the geotechnical and geo-environmental sectors. Gloucestershire-based ADP Group Limited was advised by Chalkhill Blue on its acquisition of Manchester-based Geotron UK Limited.
Workplace EV charging set to expand as planning rules ease
Swindon & Wiltshire Motors Tuesday November 3 2026 Businesses will find it easier to expand electric vehicle charging for staff, customers and fleets under new planning rules that have come into force in England. The reforms simplify permitted development rights for EV charging infrastructure, including commercial car parks and larger charging hubs. Employers no longer face the same planning barriers when adding charge points to workplace sites, making it quicker and cheaper to scale up provision.
Devolution: Wessex mayor to be elected by 2028 under plans
It has been nearly 1,100 years since Æthelstan ruled Wessex, but the ancient kingdom is preparing to select a new leader once more – although this time there will be fewer swords involved. Voters across Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are expected to elect a Mayor of Wessex in May 2028, creating the closest thing for centuries to a single political figurehead for the historic region.
South West business confidence jumps as firms bet on AI and automation
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday November 2 2026 Business confidence in the South West rose sharply in October, with firms increasingly optimistic about their own trading prospects and planning to invest in technology, new markets and staff. Confidence in the region increased by 13 points to 38 per cent, according to Lloyds’ latest Business Barometer, up from 25 per cent in September.
Clean-heat firm Luthmore banks £4.5m to scale zero-emissions boiler
Swindon & Wiltshire Manufacturing Monday November 2 2026 Chippenham engineering firm Luthmore has secured £4.5m from existing investors as it ramps up the commercial rollout of what it says is the world’s first battery-enabled, zero-emissions boiler. The funding round includes investment from The FSE Group and the South West Investment Fund, with backers backing the company’s push to decarbonise UK homes.
Swindon and Wiltshire firms offered up to £1m to break growth deadlock
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Monday November 2 2026 Businesses in Swindon and Wiltshire can now apply for loans of between £100,000 and £1 million to unlock investment projects that have been held back by infrastructure problems or commercial barriers. Wiltshire Council’s Swindon and Wiltshire Business Growth Unit has opened a new call for proposals through its Growing Places Infrastructure Fund (GPIF).
Bristol street to be transformed in £700K night-time economy boost
Swindon & Wiltshire Culture Monday November 2 2026 More than £700,000 of regional funding has been confirmed to transform Denmark Street in central Bristol, in a scheme designed to make one of the city’s busiest entertainment areas safer, more accessible and more attractive to visitors. The investment from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority will support permanent changes to the street, which runs alongside the Bristol Hippodrome and is home to a cluster of bars and food outlets.
UK offices ‘failing older workers,’ warns workplace design firm
Swindon & Wiltshire Governance Monday November 2 2026 UK office design has a “significant blind spot” when it comes to older and disabled workers, according to Bath-based workplace design and build company Interaction, which has launched a free checklist to help landlords and employers close the gap.
The only way is Wessex, as Chancellor okays Wiltshire devolution deal
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday October 28 2026 Wiltshire has been handed a major boost after today’s Budget confirmed Government support for a Wessex devolution deal – putting the county on course for a share of powers, funding and a directly elected regional mayor. Chancellor John Healey named Wessex among the areas set to receive devolution agreements, formally backing the proposed Heart of Wessex Mayoral Strategic Authority.
Swindon overcomes snobbery to help Thames Valley reach devolution milestone
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday October 28 2026 Swindon is set to gain a bigger voice over transport, housing, skills, and investment after the Government confirmed the Thames Valley will move forward with plans for a new mayoral strategic authority. Chancellor John Healey announced in his Autumn Budget Statement that the Thames Valley is among 10 areas progressing towards a mayoral strategic authority.
Healey’s first Budget: Business Biscuit partners give their reaction
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday October 28 2026 John Healey’s first Budget was pitched as “breathing space” for a strained economy: targeted help for households and high streets, paired with incentives for entrepreneurs and growth sectors, while avoiding a headline increase in the main corporation tax rate.
Taking all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment
Swindon & Wiltshire Experts Wednesday October 28 2026 Author Name: Peter Jones The law regarding sexual harassment in workplaces changes this week. Peter Jones of the HR Dept sets out what employers need to know. On 30th October, the law regarding sexual harassment in workplaces is strengthened to require employers to take “ALL reasonable steps” (rather than just “reasonable steps”) to prevent sexual harassment. It will also increase in scope to include harassment by third parties.
Weston MP told coach firms need government support
Swindon & Wiltshire Economy Wednesday October 28 2026 Weston-super-Mare MP Dan Aldridge has visited the headquarters of coach firm Bakers Dolphin to hear how rising costs, driver shortages and the shift to zero-emission vehicles are squeezing one of the town’s best-known employers. The regional coach firm welcomed Aldridge to discuss the challenges facing the industry, following a Westminster Hall debate earlier this month on the coach sector.
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