Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 148

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 was cold, calculating and absolutely delicious.

9. Don't take him again, it'll all just be repeated.

8. There are cuts, cuts and cuts galore.

7. What do we call them now, older people?

6. Try using the handbrake for a change!

5. Before eight o'clock you turn left, then after you go straight on, don't ask me what happens on Sundays though.

4. Clear, light winds, with a small chance of some excitement when I get home.

3. He looks, dresses and acts like everyone else, he's the equivalent of relationship wallpaper.

2. Very manly, very manly, you big girl.

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

1. He was leering into your face trying to obtain your vote by breathing deeply, I feel soulless.

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

Brown Heads To Town

Swindon Centric has learnt that Gordon Brown will be in Swindon for most of tomorrow.

Swindon Centric Says ; Look out for the bus! Perhaps his transport will allow him to sample the wi-fi in Highworth, but as political visits go, I doubt it will get mentioned.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 147

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 floating right across the road.

9. It's called 'Live ad Laughing' and has a fat chinese man on the front of it.

8. It will bring us victory.

7. Do you see that, it's out of place.

6. Something we couldn't have predicted, it came out of the clear blue sky.

5. Her name is Katie, the woman from accounts told me on the lift.

4. First a short skirt, then she wears a nightie for the whole episode, a bikini next week?

3. There's several, they smell and are incredibly expensive.

2. Only five people on the bus and none of them paid.

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

1. I agree with Nick on that one.

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

Glaholm : No, Yes..& No Again

David Glaholm (Independent, Penhill) has changed his mind once again and will not stand for reelection to his seat after becoming angry at bus provision to the Swindon Academy.

Swindon Centric Says ; At least he's consistently indecisive.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 146

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 could say it in rhyme, plus be in time.

9. No reason to peer, I'm sorry my dear.

8. There's no way to tell, it's better than gel.

7. They operate the 7, but not the 11.

6. I'd have bought a large bloomer, if I'd known about it sooner.

5. Here comes the dawn, the best part of morn'.

4. I'm a poet and I don't remember the rest of that rhyme.

3. I took a quick peak, he's an absolute Gleek.

2. There's a time and a place for stating your case.

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

1. Finish this rhyme : There was once a firm called Digital City...

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

The Case of the Disappeared Directors & The Offshore Owner

The news from tonight's scrutiny committee is the deferral of the loan decision on the wi-fi until the next meeting.

The reason being that the committee isn't clearly satisfied as to who the other two directors of Digital City are. The third being Rikki Hunt.

The main shareholder of Digital City is listed as aQovia Limited, based on the Isle of Man, instead of the aQovia UK Ltd, registered in the UK.

Again this mistake is being spun as 'minor', just a matter of forgetting to add on the 'UK' to paperwork.

Swindon Centric Says ; Are 'minor errors' acceptable when the large gamble of public money sits on the table? What hope for this venture when the people doing the admin can't even fill out the forms correctly?

Today's Wi-Fi Cliffhanger Is...

No sooner had the previous post gone up, then Swindon Centric read this on the Talk Swindon website.

Swindon Centric Says ; Some other revelations concerning everyone's favourite ropey business venture coming later it seems.

Stay tuned!

The Bluh Doctrine on Wi-Fi

The election kick-off has no-doubt had an effect on discussion about the wi-fi, but the comments today by Councillor Des Moffat, Labour Western Ward, (and those of Councillor Wright from yesterday) feel like they've been keeping most of their powder dry for a while.

In Councillor Moffat's account of the cabinet meeting, the politicising of the scheme was criticised again by Councillor Bluh. Despite the obvious politicising by the Conservatives and even by Digital City, who still have the following blurb on their website.

"We want to see a flowering of this all over the country." - Caroline Spelman, Shadow secretary of state for communities and local government.

It's reassuring that individual councillors are putting up accounts of cabinet meetings, since the minutes we should be able to rely on are misleading.

Councillor Bluh seems to have developed his very own Bush-style doctrine on the wi-fi, with the Conservative party South Swindon Prospective Parliamentary Candidate standing a fair distance from his comments.

Swindon Centric Says ; - You're either with us, or you're against us on the wi-fi - (to skew a quote) Mr Bluh seems to believe there is no middle-ground, which is ironic as that's exactly the part of the electorate he needs to attract if he is to win his seat again.

P.S. - Winning his seat, in Dorcan, just became slightly higher in profile after this. Oh, the irony in the competitor's name too.

Council Digs Out Hard Hats For Mechanics

There's now just under two weeks left for Matthew Singh, owner of the Mechanics Institute, to present his order of works to the council.

If the information and timetable he presents isn't deemed realistic or acceptable then the council will contract the work out, to make the building safe, under the Urgent Works Notice, and then claim the money back from him. Externally, nothing has happened, the blue plastic is still flapping, and superficially, a sign advertising a contractor has been placed by the main south doors.

Swindon Centric Says ; With comments that the council would take ownership, it seems just a matter of time before lots of Swindon Commercial Services staff arrive.

Swindon's Community Money Thrown Into The Air For Wi-Fi

Councillor Bob Wright, Labour Central Ward, has given details about exactly where the £450,000 for the wi-fi came from.

According to his entry on the Swindon Labour website, it came from money meant for, 'wider community use" , and not for 'a single person or project'.

Swindon Centric Says ; 'The loan was authorised through a Town Centre regeneration approval note', writes Mr Wright, a highly questionable classification considering recent telecoms news that BT are to install a fibre-optic system for broadband in Swindon. The use of public money on 'regeneration' of telecoms, which is being industry led anyway, is highly questionable : much like the rest of the wi-fi process and project.

Retail Demolition Therapy & The New-New Swindon Company

Either the remaining part of the old Bhs store, or the scaffolding around it, collapsed earlier today, giving a bit of drama to Tuesday morning shoppers.

It's a cruel irony that with regeneration being one of the biggest local election issues, buildings in our town centre need no help in falling down.

Swindon Centric Says ; The new and improved New Swindon Company is made with even more public money but hasn't lost any of that original flavour you love!

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 145

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 dressed up like a real policy of inclusion.

9. His best friend, Mr Profit.

8. Double-dipping is never something that would be advised.

7. Our changes this month are pants and a new brand of tea.

6. They are not doing something, they're talking about doing something.

5. We need to prevent the pushback, all day.

4. This is the best fried chicken I've eaten all day.

3. You have to remember, no-one cares about her opinion.

2. There'll be a spike in interest once the details are released.

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

1. Here come the elderly!

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