Brunel Tries To Hold Back The Tide

This was the scene this morning at ten o'clock at the Havelock Street entrance to the Brunel Centre. Just before the picture was taken, three or four white-shirted managers surveyed the work with brooms, before vanishing, no doubt for a cup of tea.

Swindon Centric Says ; It's unconfirmed at this hour whether the barricade was an effort to stem the flow of water after the previous half-hour's downpour, or to keep back the tide of low quality shopping in Havelock Square. It's also uncertain if either effort was successful.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 104

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 not your fault, what an excuse.

9. We bonded over belgian buns.

8. My primary school is incredibly small, either that, or I got really big.

7. Glasses, contact lenses and chicken all reduced.

6. I was pushed into this, I wanted to be on the 19.

5. Everything can be recycled, nearly.

4. She's arriving in about 7 minutes, give or take 10 minutes.

3. It doesn't get much bigger than this, look.

2. If you wear a face mask, it doesn't show you're responsible, it shows that you want attention.

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

1. You really can't argue with a woman of that build.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Poetry Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 103

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.

Don't forget this too, poetry for every bus user.

10. I'll bet we'll be about five minutes late.

9. Please take a bite of this excellent cake.

8. The 14 or 29, it really doesn't matter.

7. Portion control's a myth, you'll still get fatter.

6. No, drinking that here is a fineable crime.

5. I've told you twice, get in the line.

4. Single or Travelpass, plus a pensioner to boot.

3. Don't look now, but that was my foot.

2. 'Formidable', or 'Daring' you could say at best.

1. 'Saints, 'Earls' and 'Westerns' making up the rest.

A special thanks to Komadori for throwing down the gauntlet for this week!

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

The Need For An Extra-Large Swindon

The need for a rolling programme of building work on all edges of the town has been reenforced with the consultation on the Eastern Development Area.

Never mind about the houses still being built in North Swindon, or the lonely looking few houses in the very green Front Garden, lets get strategised for constant growth up to the middle of the century.

Swindon Centric Says ; The consultation ends on the 15th of June, so if you wish to, make your voices heard.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 102

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 think I'm going to get harassed, which I'm strangely looking forward to.

9. It means nothing if we don't get above 37%.

8. Justifying that is like trying to argue that less trees are good for sawmills.

7. Operation Chocolate is officially launched!

6. That's awfully polite of them, we accept.

5. Birth control pills are harmful, especially if you're trying for a baby.

4. I'm looking forward to the small stubby pencils.

3. Then we get all this money to expand transport, madness.

2. An old-fashioned sweet shop, right here in Swindon.

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

1. He drove hell-for-leather to get here, realised there was no-one in and kicked in the front door, he didn't even leave a note, how rude.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Made In Swindon - Music - The Boy Done Good

Starting a new strand here on Swindon Centric, 'Made In Swindon' aims to showcase that far from being a cultural desert, there's genius in this town, if you care to look...

Hence, The Boy Done Good and their single, Walk On Woman, which is being released on 29th of June.



Swindon Centric Says ; The song is even being talked about on the buses.

Town Centre Starts To Crumble

Since we're going to have to wait an awfully long time before any significant development happens in the town centre (apart from the BHS rebuild), the next best course should be maintaining what we currently have.

But oh no.

The stopped Jubilee clock has been unplugged for nearly a year and neither Swindon Borough Council, nor the Brunel Centre, who supplied the power, seem to care about it. How difficult can it be to plug a clock back in?'. Now, along with the empty shops and the stopped clock, we can put down the incredibly poor quality paving that runs around the outside of the Brunel Centre. Specifically the stretch from Havelock Square to Regent Street. Swindon Centric witnessed a man trip over the uneven storm drain covers that run where the old Brunel Centre canopy roofs used to stand. He didn't just trip, he nearly ended up smashing his face on the uneven and broken paving slabs.

The quality of the flooring is in stark contrast to that in Regent Street, which is in far better shape and brightens up the shopping street.

Swindon Centric Says ; Is the Brunel Centre going to bring their paving outside the centre up to an acceptable standard? In this case, they are being shown up by the Council, which isn't a comparison to be proud of.