Musing On The Mode Of Town Centre's Stagnation

Swindon Borough Council have now officially announced that the Regent Place scheme, championed by Modus, is dead.

However we're assured that the Union Square (old Fleming Way Post Office site) scheme, to be carried out by Muse, is "moving ahead".

But this small piece of news from last year shows an ironic twist. A celebratory lunch (was it on expenses? Surely not!), organised by Anne Snelgrove MP wasn't attended by the group it was arranged for, Muse (in recognition of the Union Square deal). So instead, the crustless sandwiches and little cakes were in honour of the people from Modus, celebrating the Regent's Place deal.

Oh the irony.

Swindon Centric Says ; If the Union Square scheme gets built, I'll give Anne Snelgrove and everyone at the New Swindon Company a jam donut*. Probably, depending on the current economic conditions and what the response of the market is to a donut-based investment in the vibrant hub that is Swindon.

* Offer is subject to withdrawal at anytime.

Swindon, This Is Swindon - New Thread!

The Renault Building (it may be marketed as Spectrum, but that name really hasn't caught on) as spied on a weekend afternoon from the cyclepath next to Rivermead Drive.

Swindon Centric proudly launches a new thread called 'Swindon, This Is Swindon', today.

The thread aims to show the town through the eyes of a keen photographer and that Swindon has ugly sores, beauty spots and mundane rumps aplenty, if you care to stop and look.

Swindon Centric Says ; 'Open your eyes and look up' as a famous photographer once said.

New Wedding Service Route

Swindon Centric is wondering if the wedding gossip will turn up on next week's top ten list.

Congratulations to Elaine and Mark.

Swindon Centric Says ; New route, exact 'yes' or 'no' only please, no waiting.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 107

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. I would only ever consider that if I was a major lead in a soap.

9. I hear they got it worse in the street opposite.

8. Grab your cockles and lets go.

7. The 14, 29, then 1 and 1A.

6. Why does everyone have to like The Beatles?

5. Sarah Perry is hotter than a bag of chips.

4. I'm meant to get off at the stop after the shopping centre, which one?

3. Keep your eyes on me and see if I lie.

2. I have a selection of options available, but I can't remember any of them.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. Would you care to start with a cocktail, or should we just get down to it?

Overheard something we've missed? Then email us at swindoncentric@mac.com or leave us a comment and your phrase could make it onto next weeks list!

Mural Restoration - The Excellent Side Of Regeneration

The New Swindon Company may have been around since the town centre didn't quite look as bad as it does now, but not much has happened of note since then.

So Swindon Centric declares that the best part of anything in the town centre is the repainting of the Golden Lion Bridge Mural by it's creator, Ken White.

Swindon Centric Says ; You can tell this isn't a New Swindon Company project, because this one is actually going to happen.

Where else should we have a new generation of murals in Swindon? Ideas welcome.

Made In Swindon 2 - Music - The Boy Done Good Single, Out Now

Letting you know that local band, The Boy Done Good, have their debut single, Walk On Woman (the video of which is above) out now, to download on itunes, play.com, plus the B-side, You See Her, the video for which is below.

Swindon Centric Says ; As she comes and she goes, walk on woman, more on that story later.

Councillors Keep Hands Off Lifeboat Plug... For Now

As Komadori has noted, the council seem to be taking a very picky attitude to anyone who's a street trader in the town centre, which in a recession seems foolhardy.

The one saving grace, at least, for the minute, is the delaying on making a decision until the committee has more information (a shocking flash of honesty there).

Swindon Centric Says ; Similar to pulling a plughole out of a lifeboat after the ship has sunk and the lifeboat is all you have. Those street traders better invest in some armbands.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 106

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. She's hot, take a look.

9. Have you tried readjusting your RAM?

8. The icing thicken rather too quickly for my liking.

7. She'll go into the next year with a new tutor and an old attitude.

6. I shouted, threw a few things, seemed to do the trick.

5. We're at a category 3, when it goes up to 4, things will start falling from the sky.

4. I'm sick of people going on about the weather, but it has been hot, hasn't it?

3. Once they reach the end of the route the driver gets out and has a little dance.

2. Your positive thoughts have been duly noted but I'm still scared to death.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. I can't believe I've just had a letter from Marks & Sparks recalling my three year old hammock, due to weather deterioration.

Overheard something we've missed? Then email us at swindoncentric@mac.com or leave us a comment and your phrase could make it onto next weeks list!

Made In Swindon - Blog - Graham Carter's Foghorn Bloghorn

Searching for pictures for use in the bus list for last week and the week before, I stumbled on Graham Carter's blog, with the fantastic name The Foghorn Bloghorn.

Swindon Centric Says ; There's a link to Graham's site in the right hand column and here's one too, a great addition to Swindon's online presence.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 105

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. It's their golden years, more like gold-plated.

9. I couldn't even spell the word, never mind say it.

8. It's a fares boundary, like a church, it's hallowed and special ground.

7. By now the situation's a level playing field.

6. It's a press release from a marketing company dressed up in a news story's clothes.

5. There are several reasons I didn't go, none of which are true.

4. Whether they might try and tell, you should never try and bake a fishcake.

3. I'm easy, but don't put that around, I have a reputation to uphold.

2. They didn't have any unconcentrated orange juice, so I had a double-brandy.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. His car sounds like a washing machine which could be a cunning marketing ploy, but he never said so if it was.

Overheard something we've missed? Then email us at swindoncentric@mac.com or leave us a comment and your phrase could make it onto next weeks list!