Frontages Affronted

Swindon could be about to lose some of it's old shop frontages according to a new planning application.

It's number S/16/1679 if you want to search for yourself on the council Planning Portal.

To build, mostly flats, three shop fronts would go, two in Bridge Street and one in Fleet Street.

It seems strange that the developer has realised the importance of Swindon's town centre building frontages in it's planning application supporting documents, but then plans to replace three of them with three soulless, generic blocks of flats.

Will this go through and will we lose yet more character from a part of town that can little afford to lose any more?

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 340

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

10. I'll tolerate it for one more day, then I'll kill you.

9. There's only so much of this I can take before I snap.

8. I only got B's in drama and English and got C's in everything else.

7. I swear, I swear on my mum's grave.

6. Keep it in mind when you get to see the children.

5. Jane keeps talking about her feet all the time, like she's the only one with them.

4. Bubble tea really shouldn't be forced on people.

3. I'm not in the mood for excuses and light banter.

2. Actually read the message first and figure it out from the words he's used.

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

1. He's Labour, he's Conservative, he's Labour again, and shake it all about.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 339

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

10. I now know what he's like when it comes to conducting himself.

9. There's wasn't much choice, so I got tuna.

8. It what I've got use to over the years, less and less interest.

7. People who shop in that branch must think the staff reckon they're stupid.

6. There was an uncooked bit underneath the bread.

5. Why are you looking at that crap on Snapchat?

4. You can break up with her, it's not fixed.

3. He's sexist, racist, he's a man who sexually assaults woman and jokes about it.

2. I was in Primark when Kia rang, I ignored it.

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

1. Why don't they just raise my council tax?

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

U-Turn If You Want To : Courtliff's Back In The Room

Less than 24 hours after announcing he was crossing the floor to Conservatives, Councillor Matthew Courtliff (Labour, Conservative, Labour. Freshbrook & Lydiard) has now u-turned and is back with Swindon Labour.

He describes it as the "most stupid 24 hours of my life".

More details to follow after we finish hitting our head against a wall.

Does Courtliff's Trust In Swindon Tories Prove Lydiard's a Done Deal?

There may have been more questions last night than answers after Councillor Matthew Courtliff's floor-crossing to the Tories, but has one answer already been settled?

If the assurances that have been given to Councillor Courtliff by the Tories on Lydiard are solid, then does that mean a trust organisation is almost guaranteed to take over the park and house?

Has a councillor's bit of political theatre also given us the last act in the Lydiard saga?

Labour Courtliff's Tory Defection Throws "honesty, integrity and humility" Out The Window

Councillor Matthew Courtliff (Labour, Conservative, Lydiard & Freshbrook) shocked Swindon politics tonight by defecting to the Tories.

He promised "I will always serve you with my values of honour, integrity and humility".

Just five months after being elected almost entirely on a 'no to selling off Lydiard Park' mandate, he has crossed the floor after reportedly being given assurances by the Tory group on Lydiard's future.

He also appears to have deleted his Twitter account.

How can assurances be given when bidding is still underway?

Does this show how desperate Swindon Tories are to hang onto SBC control by making promises in return for a floor-crossing?

How can Councillor Courtliff now defend Swindon Conservative plans for the asset-stripping of Swindon, having campaigned against them to get elected?

How can Councillor Courtliff justify his position without a by-election after changing party?

What state does this leave Swindon Labour in? A dire one it can only be concluded.

There are many questions in the rotten borough tonight, but few answers.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 338

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

10. He's only staying temporarily.

9. I was just checking, I don't know what you get up to.

8. It's alright, I've got another battery at my auntie's house.

7. Where did you put that magazine with the survey on eyes?

6. Can't we just catch the other bus, it's so much nicer.

5. I can't believe you're doing this, why are you doing this?

4. You forgot to get the chilli chicken, we can get it at Asda.

3. I sent it him on Snapchat, oh my god.

2. He's not that interesting when you get chatting to him really.

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

1. Keep it quiet, but she doesn't love him.

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

Swindon's Rotten Parishes : Council WILL Force Legally-Questionable Parishing Whatever Residents Think

Swindon South MP Robert Buckland has shot more holes in Swindon Borough Council's Swiss Cheese proposal enforcing of parishes.

Yes, it is enforcing, as the cabinet paper for the final option, will be printed within 2 weeks of the public consultation closing.

Meanwhile the councillor responsible for parishing doesn't have answers to most questions on it.

Plus, SBC's wishful thinking is that businesses in the centre of Swindon will pay a one-off VOLUNTARY contribution of £400,000 towards sustaining the Town Centre parish through until after the 2018 elections until a more sustainable solution has been found.

Komadori's blistering post of their reply to the consultation shows how legally questionable the  rotten parishing of Swindon is.

And just to give one more example of SBC's North Korean attitude to and understanding of democracy, it's said that unless Stratton Parish Council takes on StreetSmart services (despite Stratton having a referendum on extending parishing powers, which they rejected, a basic bit of democracy that's been denied to the rest of Swindon) SBC will simply stop carrying them out.

That's not an option, that's an ultimatum.

These councillors are acting with reckless disregard for Swindon's residents and the democratic process. And they don't care, they really don't.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 337

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

10. I'm not on my own with him hanging round all the time.

9. You need to reassess what it's all about.

8. They're not shoes, they don't even have tops.

7. Keep it in mind for when I've got time.

6. My turn now, give me that headphone.

5. That app's crap, it made my phone yellow.

4. Why are you so angry?

3. He's an estate agent and should know better.

2. People don't fax any more, send a telegram!

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

1. I already bought this last week.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 336

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

10. Oh it's kept very clean in here.

9. No, that's my yogurt.

8. I think her really needs to think about what he needs when he thinks proper.

7. I thought she'd moved to Southampton, but she was sat in her garden with her feet in water.

6. If you keep moaning I'm just going to ignore you until we get home.

5. Lets keep it in perspective for once.

4. It's not a good idea, we all know it.

3. A generous amount of salt, then scrub it for all you're worth.

2. Keep your top on for goodness sake.

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

1. I beg you to keep it to yourself because if Sharon finds out, we're all for it.

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