Wi-Failed : Double-Feature Coming Soon!

The accounts of Swindon's drunken dalliance with the money black-hole Digital City (they promised to bring us all free wi-fi and unlock a money-making machine and, well, it didn't happen, but they did spend all their money, but on what exactly?) will soon be published.

Get. The. Popcorn.

Wi-Fail : Councillor Contradicts Roll-Out Plan By Digital City

A 'where-aren't-we-now' story this week by the Swindon Advertiser's Charley Morgan did well to keep the public's attention on the collapsing council-backed project.

One comment by everyone's favourite 'Your councillor on the wi-fi company's board', Garry Perkins is very telling.

The quote is, "And we hope a large part of the town will be completed by this time next year."

When Rikki Hunt (CEO of Digital City, the company meant to be doing the work) appeared on Graham Mack's Swindon Breakfast Show on BBC Wiltshire at the start of October, this exchange occurred...

Graham Mack : "So it'll be finished this time next year?"

Rikki Hunt : "Yeah".

Swindon Centric Says : Who's right? Who's wrong? Who knows?!!!!

PS - If you're having a Christmas Party this weekend, Swindon Centric wishes you a great time, and hopes you can leave work worries at the door.

Rent-Free Premises Available (No Lift Access, Will Have To Lug Own Conscience)

If you follow to it's logical conclusion the fact that Digital City were given rent-free offices in the David Murray John building because it doesn't have lift access and therefore wouldn't be let-able to any private company tenant, this could be a huge boon for some in this era of Big Society. According to this report from the Advertiser, Labour claim £3,000 could be saved by Digital City vacating their grace and favour office.

Swindon Centric Says ; So if you're a charity, volunteer organisation or quango who are in need of premises in these lean times, contact Swindon Borough Council and as long as you sit in that grey area on a venn diagram, you could be living rent free!

We've Got Our Digital City Wi-Fi Eye On You

Digital City (the council funded business that's missed a platter of deadlines for giving Swindon free wi-fi) has bid to install CCTV cameras in Broadgreen.

Swindon Centric Says ; Shouldn't they be concentrating on fulfilling their initial commitments than making more?

Confirmed - Wi-Fi Scheme Has NO Paying Customers

This scheme has all the shades of The Simpson's Monorail episode.

The open secret about the commercial success of Digital City's venture (using £450,000 of council money) has been confirmed by this article.

There are no paying customers for the business, those people in Highworth are only using the free one at present. The article gives the indication that Digital City haven't chosen to launch the pay service because of the problems encountered in Highworth (the hills and the lack of lamposts)

Swindon Centric Says ; "The name's Lanley, Lyle Lanley and I come before you good people today with an idea..."If Leonard Nimoy doesn't turn up soon, we'll not be happy.

All Quiet on the Forward Swindon Front

The rebranding of the New Swindon Company into Forward Swindon has also seen other changes with a new chief executive, who seems a tad shy of local media (well, the Swindon Advertiser, who seems sore that she didn't return their phone calls), but some interesting information can be gleaned from her coverage in the Financial Times.

The FT article and that of the Swindon Advertiser mainly just talks about the tax break and marketing opportunities that Forward Swindon plan to make of Swindon. Not much talk about bricks and mortar rebuilding work.

Swindon Centric Says ; As Komadori has pointed out, the effectiveness of this new appointment is questionable, given previous experience. Then again, quangos are pretty unanswerable to anyone, but surely the best hope for an organisation charged with helping to rebuild the town centre is to staff it with architects, town planners and local stakeholders who actually have local knowledge, use the town centre and know what's needed to make it functional, relevant and attractive.

If this piece of news (specifically the comment under the story) is to be believed, everyone's favourite wi-fi businessman may soon have a hand in the town centre regeneration. Then again, since the loan to Digital City started to roll after being signed off on a note earmarking the money for small business/town centre regeneration , thank god for the small mercy that the town centre is due to be the second place to get the wi-fi. After Highworth, which still isn't finished...

"Success is based on the strength of your integrity" - Rikki Hunt

The SwindonWeb profile of Rikki Hunt makes interesting reading, especially in light of the setting up of Digital City and the wi-fi scheme late last year.

In his own words "Success is based on the strength of your integrity. Do what you say you will."

Swindon Centric Says ; According to his own words then, we have nothing to worry about. Convinced?

P.S. The addition of an advert for Digital City's 'Signal' at the very bottom of that page could be a metaphor for the marketing of the wi-fi scheme by Digital City : small, hidden and keeping as low a profile as possible.

Swindon Becomes A Rotten Borough

If someone can photoshop Tony Blair's head for that of the Swindon Borough Council leader, this cover would be spot on for our town.

The appearance of Swindon's wi-fi deal in the Rotten Borough Column of Private Eye has been acknowledged by many, but unsurprisingly, has entirely escaped the pages of the Swindon Advertiser.

It might be because the Private Eye story summarises the main points of the deal with more facts in one story than the Adver have included in the many puffy column-inches they've written since November last year.

Swindon Centric is hoping Private Eye will be keeping tabs on how the wi-fi ends and reports accordingly.

Swindon Centric Says ; With £400,000 of the £450,000 now taken by Digital City, where's our money gone and where's our wi-fi?

A Wi-Fi Bolt-On

Digital City has agreed with local house builder Bower Mapson to bundle the Home User package for free, when you purchase one of their houses. This was reported in a 'news in brief' column from the Swindon Advertiser on Wednesday 19th of May, but isn't able to be sourced online from either Digital City, or Bower Mapson.

Maybe their wi-fi signal is patchy?

Swindon Centric Says ; If you're planning on spending £200,000 on a new pad, maybe a saving of £9.99 a month for a year will just swing the deal.

The Audacity of Nope

The Audit Commission has decided that nothing has been done legally wrong in Swindon Borough Council's decision to give £450,000 of your money, free office space, and incalculable council time to a business venture being executed by a firm with no previous experience and only 13 paying customers.

There are no laws against "naviety, incompetence and negligence", shame.

Swindon Centric Says ; Swindon Borough Council : your investor in paper lifeboat manufacturing, for a better Swindon.

Wi-Fi Grace & Favour?

Swindon Centric heard a rumour yesterday, that Digital City's offices in the David Murray John building are provided, allegedly, free (the building of course being Swindon Borough Council owned).

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Swindon Centric Says ; They say on a clear day you can see Highworth, and on a really clear day, a paying customer.

Open Government

Swindon Centric isn't able to attend tonight's cabinet meeting (6.15pm at the Civic Offices), but would urge anyone that does and wishes to ask questions to save them for the official cabinet meeting.

The reason? If I asked questions to my councillors, I'd rather it's during the actual cabinet meeting not the watery 'meet and greet' beforehand, so that something resembling my concerns and a suitable response ends up on the public record.

Swindon Centric Says ; If anyone who reads this does go, can they please ask exactly where, out of the council finances, the money came from for the wi-fi grant? The answer I received, was a bit of a double-negative.

Why-Fi? Adver Attempts To Shore Up Support

The Advertiser has attempted to shore up support for the wi-fi project with a total of three businessmen saying they back the scheme, which looks more like a flimsy piece of PR.

Perhaps the newspaper should have asked them whether they thought the process of arranging the money for the scheme had been conducted clearly and in a professional business-like way?

Swindon Centric Says ; These are deep waters and rather murky.

Digital Divisions Exposed With Resignation

"Well, my gauges must be wrong. I've got a wind blowing due east. Now what kind of a fog blows against the wind?"

The murky wi-fi project has reached new depths, with Mr Hitesh Patel resigning as a director of Digital City on Friday. Fellow cabinet member Mr Greenhalgh has expressed his unease about the appropriateness of Mr Patel being a director whilst briefing the council on the validity of the business proposal. His resignation will keep the questions churning, though, judging by previous behaviour, Mr Bluh will be reluctant to answer them.

Swindon Centric Says ; Like sailing a woodworm infested trawler into a fogbank, it can't fail!

Swindon Centric Returns - To Free, Town-Wide Internet!

Swindon Borough Council is to provide all 186,000 residents with free, town-wide wireless internet access.

Though there will be a usage limit, which can be overcome by purchasing additional access, at lower prices than current suppliers.

Swindon Centric Says ; This news sounds excellent. For years, it's been suggested that internet access will become a utility as important as water, gas and electricity. Kudos to the council for pursuing this, very brave and forward-thinking service.

People in Highworth better get ready to cancel their current suppliers, as their free service starts in a few weeks.