Swindon: Community restless as Penhill police cordon remains

Police have been carrying out an investigation in the Swindon suburb since 2pm on Saturday (August 19), but said it would be 'inappropriate' to explain what they were doing or investigating. 

The cordon spanned several streets including Inglesham Road, Stockton Road, Newton Way and Semley Walk, with people living on those roads needing to be escorted by police when coming or going. 

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But the outer cordon was lifted at around 1.30pm on Sunday with locals able to traverse freely and drive through the area again for the first time since it started. 

Inglesham Road was blocked off to motorists, but was opened at aroun 1.30pm on Sunday (Image: Newsquest)

But one woman from the community could be seen speaking to a sympathetic police officer to ask what was happening. 

The woman, who did not want to be named, later told an Adver reporter at the scene "They've been here all day and all night.

"I've been scared to go out and visit my neighbours who need medical help because of the cordon.

"But then they just remove it all without telling us why they're here and that it's safe now. We don't know what's going on."

A large cordon still remains in place at the joining area between the flower gardens and the Inglesham Road play park.

Around that time, two vans full of police officers were seen to be leaving the scene. 

Another resident, also wishing to remain unnamed, said they had seen police search teams working in the area. 

They added: "They've been here all day finding things and they've been putting them in those vans."

Two vans full of police officers and alleged evidence leave the scene (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesman for Wiltshire Police had earlier provided a statement to somewhat explain its heavy presence in the area

He said: "Officers are conducting searches in the Inglesham Road area of Penhill as part of an ongoing police investigation and as a result, Inglesham Road has been cordoned off whilst this work is carried out.

"Due to the nature of the investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

But residents say the lack of clarity from a tight-lipped Wiltshire Police has led to the spreading of worrying rumours. 

"None of us have any idea what's been going on and we're seeing all these rumours about a shooting or a stabbing - it will be nice and reassuring to know what exactly is happening and why," another added, under the condition of anonymity. 

A grafitt-covered building remains cordoned off in Sevenfield park off of Inglesham Road (Image: Newsquest)