Traffic flowed along Mead Way for the first time in almost two years after setbacks delayed the addition of a new lane, a toucan crossing, and other improvements to the West Swindon route.

Utility companies spent months diverting cables, pipes and ducts out of the way of the work so that contractor Britannia Construction could lay the new road surface and get the road reopened.

One industrial estate business owner told the Adver about the massive sums of money he’d spent desperately trying to keep his company afloat during all the numerous delays and the sudden change of plans he’d carried out to make up for the huge loss of customers.

The biggest change to the area is a new northbound lane which runs from the Meads roundabout on Great Western Way up to Withymead roundabout.

The roundabout at Westmead Drive and Stonehill Green junction has been converted into a signalised crossroad junction with a toucan crossing for pedestrians to cross Westmead Drive, which will enable traffic to flow better past Westmead in the morning and evening peak periods.

Plus, the White Hart roundabout reopened to motorists after an emergency extension to the work was required because the contractors discovered in August that the road was at risk of sinking.

There is still some work left to be done on the £30m project’s new A419 sliproad before the final signs can be taken down in February but the bulk of the changes to the roundabout itself are complete.

THE Adver reported on an outpouring of tributes to a selfless surgeon and a much-loved town centre business owner.

Dr Irfan Halim, 45, who spent the past two years treating patients on Covid wards, died after a nine-week battle with Covid-19.

The chief executive of Great Western Hospital said the trust was “devastated” and described Dr Halim as “selflessly dedicated”.

The father of four collapsed during a shift at the hospital on September 10 and stayed in ICU in Swindon until September 23.

He was then transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital where he died in his wife Saila’s arms and surrounded by his brother, sister and friends.

His wife believes he contracted Covid working on GWH’s Covid wards.

Dr Halim was fully vaccinated and wore PPE on the wards. He commuted two hours from his Barking home to Swindon to treat Covid patients.

He spent four months away from his family at the height of the pandemic.

Friends and customers sang the praises of Dave Parfitt, who took over Cobblers Corner in the town centre bus station 35 years ago and helped it become a cornerstone of the community.

The kindhearted 63-year-old from Coleview’s children Chris and Emma expressed their thanks on behalf of the entire family to everyone who had written messages of condolence after their devastating loss.

WE learned that one of Swindon’s most famous nightspots is set to be given a new lease of life.

The new owner of the Brunel Rooms confirmed plans to turn the much-loved but long-abandoned Havelock Square venue into a superclub.

Chris Godwin runs the Hive club franchise. He opened one in Newbury earlier this year and he has his sights set on Swindon for his second.

Chris said the old Liquid room will be divided into two separate club rooms to form a superclub with a £500,000 investment, creating roughly around 20 to 30 jobs for the town in the process.

Nearby, the House of Fraser closed its doors for the last time, weeks earlier than expected.

Further north, the Rodbourne pong mystery continued to kick up a stink as the council contracted specialist consultants to pinpoint the source of the smell as neighbours complained that they could not use their gardens because of it.

Ans pupils and parents were warned about a TikTok trend which led to a Swindon school’s toilets being damaged.

Lydiard Park Academy sent a letter urging parents to keep an eye on their children’s social media accounts after “a very small minority” of students wrecked school property.

Anyone responsible for the damage were threatened with exclusion. Some of the money in the school’s budget had to be spent on repairs instead of on improvements.