WICHELSTOWE: A spectacular tree of life, featuring the sort of wildlife to be found in and around the canal in Wichelstowe could soon be put up in the new development.

As part of the planning permission for the expansion given in 2013, the development company was asked to commission a public art piece to be installed on the roundabout constructed on Mill Lane.

This is the winner of the competition.

The development company told planners: “Sebastien Boyeson was the successful artist, with his proposal for a ‘Tree of Life’. The tree includes animals and plants found at Wichelstowe with the heron, which was recently voted as residents’ favourite Wichelstowe wildlife, taking pride of place.

“The main structure of the tree is formed of weathering steel with the flora and fauna formed from laser cut stainless steel. It is proposed that the tree is lit with an internal light, either mains connected or solar powered.”

GREENBRIDGE: Signs at Greenbridge Retail Park could be changed. The owner of the site M&G real Estate has applied for permission to change the signs and totems directing visitors to different parts of the site. Instead of the familiar green signs, the new totems would have a black background, if the application is approved

DORCAN: Derby-based company Develop Training Ltd has applied for a change of use for the empty half of Richmond House - used by the Swindon Advertiser - at the Edison Park trading estate in Dorcan.

The company wants to be able to use the offices for workshops and classrooms for training people largely to work in the construction industry and similar trades.

Its application says: “Our training centres facilitate a wide variety of training courses including  electrical and mechanical, water systems and legionella, confined spaces, downstream gas and gas distribution, water and environmental, general health and safety, as well as courses suitable across many industries including asbestos training, and safe working at height courses.

COVINGHAM:  Mobile communications provider WK Hutchison has asked for a certificate of lawfulness to install a 20m communications mast alongside Dorcan Road in Covingham.

The mast will support six antennas and two transmission dishes, and will have four equipment cabinets at the base. The plan is to provide 5G coverage to the area, upgrading from the existing 3G coverage. and development works ancillary thereto.

OLD TOWN: The listed buildings at 11 and 13 Wood Street can be extended at the back. Jewellers and watch mender Deacon & Sons which uses number 11-15 in the street have been given permission to build more offices and workshops at the rear of the property. Numbers 11 and 13 are listed, but 15 is not.

WEST SWINDON: The parish council has been given permission to extend the skateboard and BMX park in Riverside Industrial Estate.

The council told planners the small extension was to allow “more users with a diversity of mobility to be able to use a wheel-based track”.

There will be no change to the hours of use of the park, or lighting .

EXTENSIONS: Applications have been lodged to build extensions to houses, or to build or convert outbuildings and lofts into habitable rooms at: 2 Greenfields, South Marston; 135 Cheney manor Road, Cheney Manor; 156 Ermin Street, Stratton St Margaret; 117 Inglesham Road, Penhill; and 5 The News, Russley Park, Bishopstone.

Such applications have been approved for: 171 Grange Drive and 3 Frilford Drive, both in Stratton St Margaret; 33 Birdcombe Road, Westlea; 40 The Knoll, Croft Road, Old Town; 6 Devereux Close, Grange Park; 34 Henley Drive Highworth, and 15 Bell Vue Road in Old Town.

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