Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 293

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

10. I'm just trying to show how I can make it different for the same price.

9. Debs said if you went into Debenhams you'll get a far bigger range of sizes.

8. It'll be a relief to not go home again.

7. At lunch she just sat there and said nothing to anyone from her department.

6. Well this isn't the actual route it takes, it's just temporary for a while.

5. We're not keen on the idea as we have the dog for 3 days a week.

4. They upgraded the flight, so we now leave at 4am rather than 11am.

3. Sharing for more than a couple of days has really shown the strain we've got between it.

2. I've four of them over the months and each one has lasted just longer than the previous one, but they're so cheap you can't really argue with them.

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

1. You need to get up very early to get the better of me sonny boy.

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

Bruce Street Bungle - peak time over night time right time

Avoid Bruce Street Bridges today if you value your sanity!

Swindon Borough Council has given this stellar advice, as the rebuilding work today sees resurfacing happening. This will mean only two lanes available at evening peak time and long delays during the day.

As Network Rail gets on with it's work at Stratton Green Bridge, why didn't SBC schedule the work over a very small number of nights? This happens in other parts of the world, but somehow, the least disruptive option for road users (the night time noise to local residents would be regrettable, but if it could shorten the delays they suffer day after day, it could be welcomed) is the one that has not been taken up for this work.

Maybe SBC needs to up it's skill and knowledge levels for projects like this, as it seems the residents have better ideas as to how to carry out the work than they do.

Less is more in the great Lydiard sell-off

The latest twist in the tale of the fate of Lydiard House and Park has seen Swindon Borough Council caught out by their own figures.

£450,000 is the annual subsidy that's been given recently that is spent on Lydiard. It has since come to light that Lydiard and Steam's subsidy crosses over with regard to some of the staff, so the figure is not correct. The error appeared so glaring that even Councillor Garry Perkins has asked for clarification as to what makes up the £450,000 from the Lydiard and Steam parts of the pot.

And just yesterday, SBC Council Leader, David Renard has said Lydiard is not for sale.

But you can bet at the very long-term lease least that will result will be a lease. Swindon's recent experience of leases has seen control of what's provided at the Link Centre lost due to the operator running it being under no restrictions on what facilities they have to provide.

Could a similar situation at Lydiard see residents lose free access to the Park?

Meanwhile, it'd be interesting to find out how much Steam is subsidised and the cost of the failed bid for lottery money for the Old Town museum (which it seems, if a future bid were successful, SBC would continue to subsidise the museum, which no doubt would increase due to being in a new and bigger premises).

On the one hand, we have SBC committing to continuing subsidy for the museum and art gallery and to it at new premises (which would no doubt be an increased size of subsidy), but wanting to reduce and eliminate the subsidy for a current highly-regarded public attraction.

Cutting subsidy to what we currently have and at the same time committing subsidy to something we may never get.

That's orange-painted logic for Swindon.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 292

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

10. We'll have to give him a big surprise.

9. How does it feel though for someone of her age and position?

8. I don't know what Debbie's going to do, but she better do it fast.

7. There's going to be a huge gap between them both if they move that quickly.

6. You have to look really closely, but I'm at he back next to Janice.

5. It was done deliberately, you can tell by the tone of voice, it was so sneering.

4. Take away a privilege to show just how much of a problem it's become.

3. It's been worked out that the amount you pay in is exactly the same you get out, it's been a con.

2. The apples looked past it, I bought more bananas than normal instead.

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

1. She stood for the whole hour and did nothing, she got prompted twice to do what she should have been doing all along.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 291

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

10. Do you know who he use to go out with?

9. Keep it to yourself until we know for certain that Kirsty is going to apply.

8. Can you make a little less noise, everyone doesn't want to hear your language.

7. Here, put your hand on this.

6. It's not exactly dangerous though is it, I mean everyone wouldn't do it otherwise.

5. You've taken what she's said literally and that's not right at all.

4. She was going on about that being the night of their works do and now she's claiming she can't go.

3. It's like any excuse to not get involved, then just ends up moaning that there's nothing to do.

2. He's got about 5 different jobs, none of which he particularly likes.

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

1. If you want equality you've got to remember it goes both ways and don't be surprised when something you didn't account for gets flagged up.

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

Swindon Parish Push Via the Small Print

Hidden in the small print of tomorrow's Council meeting, is a step to allow unlimited officer time to research and talk to the public about the view of Swindon Borough Council to push the 'need' for Parish Councils on the entire Borough's residents.

Very democratic, very vibrant, very fair?

None of the above!

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 290

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

10. You know nothing about what's been going on.

9. It's for you to make it clear to him that that is what you want.

8. They gave you ten minutes them realised they hadn't checked the time for over half an hour.

7. The questions weren't that difficult, but they wanted you to give quite long explanations.

6. I'd keep all of the paint on that wall, then put the paper on the one nearest the door with gold strips.

5. We have to choose one damp field over another damp field.

4. She keeps being surprised that people don't want to keep giving her free publicity over and over again.

3. Keep in mind though that she'd always complaining how we never do anything with her and when we do she's really unsociable.

2. My throat feels like the plot of a real bad film, rough and uncomfortable.

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

1. He's worth minions and minions.

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

Conservatives to Sell Swindon's Soul - all bids welcome

The ownership, access, and future of Swindon's crowning glory, Lydiard Park and House, is now clearly in the sights of Swindon Borough Council.

Despite assurances pre-election that the future of Lydiard Park and House was secure, of course, that wasn't the case.

As reported by the Swindon Adver, and here, it was clear that the Council's documentation showed that there was a recommendation to carry-out market testing in March 2014, at the same time as Swindon Conservatives denied there were any plans.

Now there appears to be a similiar fog, in whether the public will still have free access to the parkland, regardless of who runs the park and house day-to-day. 

The house and park were purchased due to the foresight of Town Clerk David Murray John for the people of the town, to go back on this and charge people to enter the park would be like selling part of the very soul of Swindon.

Plus, have any councillors or officers thought that if access is restricted to the parkland, then you can wave goodbye to the inclusion of the park's open space in the official figures?

In one move, SBC could reduce the level of public open space of an entire town, making the town's environs a worse place to live.

No doubt, they would then investigate investing a huge amount of money in building one of some fields.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 289

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

10. I've seen you stuck in a lot worse positions than that.

9. We need to show it's evil really.

8. Can you stop him from barking, because every single morning it's the same.

7. I wonder if Sandy got a date in the end.

6. I thought she'd be home by now but she's not there.

5. Please don't put your hand on my leg, this is the last time I'm going to tell you.

4. Let's remember why we're all there though.

3. It'll be nice if we can do it again, but maybe with less spaghetti next time.

2. It doesn't matter what colour the inside is, so long as it's got white on it.

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

1. I'm going to buy a bottle of wkd40.

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