Perkins Pre-Election Political Posture Pure Pomp & Puffery

The allegation of bad conduct by the former leader of the Labour Group in Swindon has been dropped by Councillor Perkins, the Deputy Leader of Swindon Borough Council.

The allegation related to the release of a document about the Mechanics' Institute, for which basis was paper-thin at best. Since the document with the details which some deemed confidential, was discussed at a council meeting that members of the public attended and the document was available for them, the situation took on a farcical theme.

A further enhancement to the sitcom-like premise, was the threat to the Swindon Advertiser not to run the story, which they were tipped-off about by the ruling Conservative Group itself.

Swindon Centric Says ; The cherry on top of this act is the quote the Swindon Advertiser have from Councillor Perkins, "No hard feelings - that's politics." A rather groundless allegation, mixed with double-talk and topped off with a non-sensical decoration.

The unexpected scene after the long roll of the credits in this story is... Swindon will have full local council elections next year, with every single council seat up for grabs.

But that's just politics, isn't it?

Rotten Borough Tories Sit On Own Bomb... Then Blame Plunger Manufacturer

In the most naff move seen since someone paired Mick Fleetwood and Sam Fox to host an awards show, the Conservatives in Swindon have begun to eat themselves, it's official!

The Adver have been informed that the Swindon Tories are to lodge a formal complaint about Labour Group leader Derique Montaut, as the embarrassing report on English Heritage's assessment of the Council's urgent works on the Mechanics' Institute was leaked to them by him, while at the same time threatening to make a complaint about the Adver covering this new development in the story.

This is despite the Adver learning of this latest twist from the Conservative group itself!!

WTF!?

Swindon Centric Says ; Take out the trash stories tomorrow include : 'Tories Start To Eat Young, Digital City Wi-Fi bought by Lex Luthor and 'Enslaving Population To Build Vanity Canal Deemed Legal by Council Leader'

PS - Dave King and all on the Hill, you have Swindon Centric's support on this bizzare and stupid turn of events, take them on, go on!

Getting The Blank Message

Swindon Centric couldn't quite pass the Magic Roundabout end of Shrivenham Road without smirking and feeling rather proud at the 'Bluh Out' graffiti.

Proud because it might show that Swindon now leads the UK in modern political graffiti and smirking because it was unexpected and entertaining!

As suddenly as it appeared, it had been cleaned off.

Swindon Centric wonders if the homeowner cleaned it himself, if he contacted the graffiti-removal team, if some other concerned citizen contacted the graffiti team or if Swindon Services were proactive and contacted the homeowner about removal themselves?

Swindon Centric Says ; "they spelled my name correctly", remarked Councillor Rod Bluh, Swindon has educated graffiti artists, at least some standards in Swindon are going up.

Barge Pole Politics Dominate Council Meeting

The canal saga, that seems to make the US election process seem like a half-hour sitcom, rubbles ever onward, at walking pace. A council meeting about the proposal descended into the muddy silt as tensions came to the surface. Seems odd that something as slow, gently and lazy as a canal can provoke such outrage, before any digging even happens.

The Canal King, Rod Bluh said it wasn't a question of "if but when" the scheme comes to the town centre. The person who tried to calm everyone down, former mayor Stan Pajak, pushed a motion to let voters decide in a ballot. The most curious remark of the night is that labour councillors opposed the motion because they didn't feel it was right for Swindon. What the heck does that mean?

Many politicians who oppose the plan keep using the immensely vague phrase, "it wouldn't work here, although it's worked in other places." Can't they come out and give some evidence to back this up, it'd make a change from the constant condemnation of the project because it's outrageous.

Swindon Centric Says ; It'd be interesting to compare the local opinions voiced when the original canal was proposed with the current ones being spouted. We're one narrowboat away from sounding like the people that objected to the railways in the 19th century.

Objections ranged from the smoke from the engines making crops die, to the breakdown of society if men and women were inside the same carriages.

PS - Lets not forget also that travellers would be risking ungodly behaviour by traveling at high speeds, ten to fifteen miles per hour, as the only other thing that traveled that fast was the devil himself.

Look out for these objections and more coming to local media soon on the canal issue!

Politicial Paradox Exists ; Tories Confirm Hole In Reality

We're pretty use to rather daft statements by local politicians on local issues and national politicians on national issues. But occasionally there is a bizzare crossover between the two.

Ladies and gentlemen of Swindon, let me introduce you to Mr Francis Maude MP who visited Swindon recently and proclaimed the following.

"Swindon is a model in many ways because there is a real commitment to people doing things differently and a lot of good practice that others would do well to follow," said the Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office. He also lavished further praise on Council Leader Roderick Bluh.

Swindon Centric Says ; We'd very much like Mr Maude to clarify exactly how "doing things differently" translates into "good practise"? Collection of household waste and recycling on different days than those that residents are informed of by the council, is that an example? Or perhaps the failure to predict and provide primary and secondary school provision in the town?

And does Mr Maude call Swindon a "model" council because of it's need to shed 200 jobs because it is so efficent?

Perhaps in a total Tory run World the ideal situation would be mass local government cuts? But we don't live in that World, or indeed the same reality Mr Maude seems to with his outlandish claims about our council.

Stay on the medication Francis.

I Wouldn't Touch Him With A Barge Pole ; Perhaps For £50 Million

We've been told a couple of interesting details this week.

Firstly a study into putting the canal back through the town centre would cost £50 million.

Next, the leader of the Borough Council, Roderick Bluh, said the money would not come from local taxpayers.

Which seems fair enough, he said that since £1.5 billion was being spent to regenerate the town centre, that £50 million isn't that much in comparison.

He added that the money would be from regeneration agencies. Since those government derived agencies (English Partnerships is the main one) get their money from central government, we do pay for it, on a national level.

Swindon Centric Says ; The canal seems like a good idea, lets hope it's done properly.

Swindon's Most Wooden ; Wanted Dead Not Alive

The repaving of Wharf Green is still happening, with the trees that were chopped down not to be wasted.

The council has told us they are to use the lumber to produce an art installation.

Indeed, council leader Roderick Bluh said "these artists have come up with a really imaginative way to use the wood".

Swindon Centric Says ; We're sure nature had a far more original use for the wood, in trees, which everyone liked, before they were cut down.