The borough council says it is doing everything it can to make sure the town’s economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Its Swindon’s Bouncing Back campaign launches today with the aim of highlighting the positive steps taken and encouraging businesses to get back on their feet.

A number of plans have been put in place as a result of the pandemic, from a fast-track licence system to enable hospitality businesses to serve customers outdoors to providing wellbeing advice and support to local businesses and residents.

Council leader David Renard said: “These past few months have posed unprecedented challenges for residents, businesses and local economies across the country, but there are reasons to be optimistic.

“Our town has always responded well to economic shocks and there are promising signs we will do so again.

“We cannot control the global recession, but what we can do is use our influence and local powers to stimulate investment and growth,” he said.

“As our lives slowly begin to return to normal, we want to use this opportunity to make sure Swindon’s economic recovery is strong and enduring.”

The council already has a number of projects in the works which are intended to improve Swindon overall including a £25m regeneration of Fleming Way and the new Zurich offices being built in the town centre.

Coun Renard added: “So that not only means providing support to local businesses to help them get back on their feet, as we have been doing in recent months, but pushing ahead with major capital projects such as Zurich’s new state-of-the-art headquarters and improving our connectivity through the ongoing work at junction 15 of the M4.

“We have also been making our case for tens of millions of pounds from the Government to transform Fleming Way and invest in the seven projects identified in our Towns Fund bid.

“It is through these projects that we will stimulate our local economy and help us bounce back even stronger.”

Data published in August by Centre for Cities, an independent think tank dedicated to helping the UK’s towns and cities improve, classifies Swindon’s town centre economy as strong, although the rating is based on an assessment of its performance before the pandemic hit and the country went into lockdown.

The organisation’s chief executive Andrew Carter said: “Swindon entered lockdown with a strong economy, and early indications suggest that it is bouncing back.

“Swindon Council’s encouragement of town centre visitors and support for businesses puts the area in a strong position to move forward and protect jobs.”