Top Town Thamesdown Return after Bruce Street Bungle?

Say it quietly, quickly and with a spoonful of healthy doubt - the work on Swindon's Bruce Street Bridges appears to have been completed.

The less said about the 'give way the wrong way junction' junction and the vast amount of bleak tarmac that's a massively wide footpath (why didn't they just put in more bushes and greenery?), the multiple overruns and the countless time and money wasted with residents stuck in queues, the better.

Can we soon look forward to Thamesdown Transport's service 13 and 14 now returning to their original routing via Commercial Road and Regent Circus for daytime weekdays?

As Thamesdown's chief said last August, the services had been rerouted via Station Road to allow a quicker service recovery due to the long queues at Bruce Street Bridges whilst the work overran, and overran and and overran.

The project was also announced as 'substantially complete', twice. Here and here. Great job there Councillor Dale Heenan, the councillor in charge. Interestingly, Councillor Heenan was quite happy to get his face in the paper for the new Stratton Green Bridge opening, but Swindoncentric doubts he'll perform a grand ribbon-cutting at Bruce Street Bridges.

So when will passengers from Haydon Wick and Moredon on the 13 and 14 be able to enjoy direct service back to the usual routing?

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 313

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

10. I know restaurants in that neighbourhood, you'll find no Chinese there my fine friend.

9. Is it possible to make being lazy into an art form?

8. It's taken long enough, but they've finally sacked her.

7. In the right light, it looks like a scary Ken Livingstone.

6. How is it possible though for people to just get away with stuff like that?

5. But is this town ready for this amount of Beyonce sass, I say yes.

4. The buses are going to be all over the place come the shutdown.

3. If this weather would just get a little bit warmer, my legs would be thankful.

2. I try as best I can to avoid going through fences and walls.

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

1.  I heard it had been decided to dispense with the roundabout all together and install a sign saying 'good luck'.

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

Unambition Unworthy of Brunel

The objections by the owners of the Brunel Centre to the Oasis redevelopment plan (and also the plans for Cribs Causeway) smack of someone in a boat that's slowly sinking blaming everyone round them for the seaworthiness of the craft they're bobbing about in.

The Brunel don't like the Oasis plan because it will include retail space which they feel will unfairly compete with the Brunel. The Oasis plan says that retail would be related to the sports activities, so you can bet one of them, at least, will be a shop selling snowboards. Not exactly something the Brunel has cornered the market in, or ever will or would want to.

It also complains about the empty units in the town centre and the lack of demand for them. It claims this would be made worse by the Oasis plan, yet the Brunel has figured out how to deal with it's long-term empty units as it's about to turn a large number into a food court, which it seems confident of letting. Also getting in on the leisure game, the Brunel has applied to turn units that have never been let since the Brunel Arcade was refurbished in the 1990s, into a gym.

The Brunel deserve strong praise for the number of events and higher-profile branding they've committed to in the last few years, this has brought more people in and shows that when an organisations spends the time and money, they can get things right.

So why whinge and moan about the Oasis and Cribs Causeway? Take a bit of spirit from the statue you're about to turn around of the engineer and make yourself the destination. Complaining about other developments makes it seem like you've left your ambition in an empty shop unit.

Give us a Brunel that can compete and see the crowds flock in*

*That goes for you too Forward Swindon. Raise your game, and while you're at it, your website doesn't seem to have been updated since June, hardly a vibrant shop window for a vibrant town is it?

We're going to take this previously council-tax-paid-for service and make it an evergreen payer

The annual story about signing-up for the Swindon Borough Council green waste collection has reared it's ugly head like a weed sprouting forth following a sudden burst of warm weather.

No mention is ever made of this service for several years being previously provided under the council tax rate every household pays. That service then stopped, but there was no reduction in council tax to reflect this, then in 2014 a separate pay-for service was introduced at £40 a year for fortnightly collections during the warm months. 

The unpopularity of the scheme was reflected in the increase in flytipping in the months following introduction.

Witness over the next few months those who can afford it, with the large drives of the nice houses in the wealthy areas of town, will have their bins out every fortnight. 

Whereas in the poorer areas of town, they'll be conspicuous by their absence. 

One SBC doorstep service for the well-off gardener, and one queue at the municipal recycling centre for the poor other.

The great Swindon everything-must-go sale - It's child's play!

Swindon Borough Council continues daily to dispose itself of assets as the great Swindon sell-off continues.

Not being sold, but given a long-lease, are all the SBC playgrounds currently in an area that is also covered by a parish council. Hence the above list from the Adver from last week of playgrounds being leased off to Stratton St Margaret, Blunsdon, Wroughton and Haydon Wick.

Of course, no front page story about this, but it did make it in the paper, on a page with the classifieds, but SBC are probably hoping no-one noticed.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 312

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

10. Keep it in perspective when you're thinking about what to wear.

9. I'll be watching you my girl.

8. No, the bridge is going to go, where to, I have no idea.

7. He got on this same bus yesterday and said the same daft thing to the driver.

6. The escort is meant to meet her at the door, he was sat outside in the van, it took her 15 minutes to get outside.

5. Let's remember how we got to this point though, you chose to ignore everything I said.

4. You're going to go through with leaving him then?

3. You get so excited about things like that when you want to make a point.

2. It just looks all glowing the food at McDonalds, that must be the vitamins it contains.

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

1. What did you think my reaction was going to be if you started off by blaming me for everything?

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

Walcot's Fantastic Fiction Section

Councillor Ex-Councillor Mallinson has once again flown the flag for 'his' hardworking volunteers at the Walcot Library after I.T. problems recently.

Once again councillor ex-councillor Mr Mallinson has said how amazing 'his' volunteers are, while twisting the knife into the libraries and blaming them for the I.T. problems. As anyone who has gone near Swindon Borough Council in the last 9 years will know (such as councillors ex-councillors), SBC signed a massive contract with Capita back in 2007 (signed by SBC while councillor ex-councillor Mallinson was a councillor), which included I.T. provision and support. The fact the I.T. has just come back in-house will give you an idea why 'Crapita' was a frequent word uttered around SBC regarding the quality of service, especially around I.T. 

Councillor Ex-councillor Mallinson also blames the libraries for lack of support for 'his' volunteers (despite the brand-new building that the library and charity shop 'he' runs now exists in as part of the Sussex Square rebuilding). A new building is certainly anything but a lack of support. He also makes no mention of the SBC library staffed hours that Walcot is provided with during some of it's opening hours. 

The views of Councillor ex-councillor Mallinson regarding 'his' volunteers taking over fully at Walcot, which he clearly wants in the future as he sees the library service as an inconvenience in the current discussion, is interesting when seen in relation to Old Town Library. The campaigners for Old Town Library have made it very clear they want to retain their library with paid staff in it, despite Councillor ex-councillor Mallinson extolling the virtues of volunteers back in 2010.

Even more interesting, is that Old Town Library costs the least per hour of operation compared to any other Swindon library (as can be seen for each library here, appendix 1 to be specific).

So a combination of staff and volunteers at Walcot library (open 19 hours a week), costs more per hour open, than Old Town library (open 36 hours a week) which is fully staffed all the time.

And back in 2010, Councillor ex-councillor Mallinson didn't seem too bothered about cutting his own library's opening hours when he didn't have enough volunteers to man it. 

Be interesting what the few regulars at Walcot made of finding that it was shut because no-one turned up to open it.

Rest assured that if our town's libraries do end up being fully volunteer run (which Swindoncentric finds not only insulting to the idea of building the town's knowledge, intellect and confidence, but also a scary dismantling of civic infrastructure), then at least those volunteers will be at the same level of skill as Swindon's councillors (and ex-councillors)... untrained and unskilled.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 311

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

10. I want you to grow up just a bit and realise it's not appropriate.

9. I have a rather attractive nose.

8. You'd be working from home, which is not much different to now.

7. You missed the earlier one, I saw you run passed.

6. Keep your hands off her until you're sure that her husband is back inside.

5. They say that she was suspended after the petty cash went missing.

4. I never use the market anyway.

3. In that case, I'm going to reconsider the whole situation.

2. What a surprise to see you out of work.

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

1. I'd rather be honest than an absolute twat that people roll their eyes at.

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

Locarno plan lays bare the perils and chances from Swindon's history and future

Steve Rosier's determination to get the Locarno 'done' deserves praise.

This blog remembers well the highly frustrating attitude councillors had to the previous proposal to the site with them deciding when it came to the crunch that it was too tall for them.

That then led onto the threat to demolish the building from the owners to push councillors to figure out their attitude towards it once and for all.

Of course, even before it got to that stage, there were the two fires before then and before that, years of it being empty.

As Mr Rosier has said, the car parking at the Lawns plan is just one of a number of options being explored to make the redevelopment viable. We'll look forward to all the plans being made public soon so we can look through and see them for ourselves (and the Lib Dems who had no details).

The Locarno plan will be a real test for Swindon Borough Council's planning department and the relevant councillors. They will have a difficult time raising objections to a plan which is working with a planning brief that SBC agreed on back in 2013.

The story of Old Town traders in support of the Locarno does raise the evergreen subject of Old Town deeming itself worthy of special treatment when it comes to planning in comparison to the rest of the town and borough. Mr Talikowski calls for Old Town to have it's own masterplan. Old Town already has it's own section of the Swindon Masterplan (study area 5, page 177).

If we go down the route of sectioning off areas of town - the town centre, the Outlet and Old Town, we simply reinforce the entrenched view and attitude that an area has nothing to offer or complement the other and the nearly two centuries old turf war between Old Town and New Town continues.

For every mid to high end independent business in Old Town there are three in New Town. They might not all be high end and most may not be mid-range, but they're doing a thriving business paying far less rent than some of those up on the hill and reaping the rewards from their cheaper prices.

There are frequent and fast bus services up and down the hill, maybe a cultural exchange is needed between and Old and New Town?

And no, it's not 1841, but in some ways, it still feels like it is.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 310

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

10. I never thought I'd see the day when you'd admit that not only were you wrong, but also stupid.

9. All you do all the time is lie there.

8. I know why Davis thinks it's a bad idea, but I can't tell anyone, because then they'll know that he knows.

7. Fancy seeing you here, it's quite a posh bus to what you're use to isn't it?

6. They're having a conservatory put in, which is odd, as I thought they already had a conservatory put in last year, can you get them extended?

5. It's all gone down hill since they put that light-controlled junction in.

4. Just think what could be achieved with the right attitude and just a little bit of money.

3. I had noticed the way that she looks at him, it's so common.

2. For all the world you'd think that it was a secret of nuclear proportions, we're just going to throw a surprise party for them, no need for all this cloak and dagger stuff.

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

1. Well as you're aware, grandad is black.

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

Lawns, Locarno and Lib Dems

The tiny party of Lib Dems in Swindon appear to be fighting back from extinction with a good meaty topic - possible building of car parking spaces on the Lawns for the Locarno development.

However, far from filling with information, the Lid Dems have missed most of the meat from the bones of the story.

The proposed Locarno redevelopment includes, as most developments in Swindon have, a problem with car parking. One of the numerous possible options being explored is building some spaces on the Lawns. The Lib Dems give no further details of this plan, or of the others, but urge residents to make their opinions felt in the form of an online survey. This survey gives no further options, information, or facts about that plan or the alternatives.

This is the same Lib Dems who seem to miss the boat on planning matters as a point of course. Witness the campaigning on the crossing at Regent Circus (once it was finished), and the printing in leaflets of the wish to see the old Swindon College building turned into an art gallery (despite it being approved for other uses and the council favouring a site near the Wyvern). The Lib Dems were also surprised at a demolition at the rear of the building (the surprise was also expressed by the Civic Voice) which was part of the approved planning application.

Expect more heat being generated by the Swindon Lib Dems in the run-up to May, but as for light, there's only a few of them, so don't expect them to have enough bodies to turn both handles at once.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 309

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

10. I nearly got taken out by a bag for life.

9. If they were in tighter formation, it wouldn't be as much of an issue.

8. There's no culture there, they've only got a TK Maxx and a coffee shop.

7. It's no clever if Mary thinks she's some sort of saint at every possible opportunity.

6. Oh my god, did you get that Snapchat, worth more than all the money I've got in my pockets.

5. How much did you pay him for that weed?

4. These clothes are the best example I have of smart casual.

3. When he gets on let's give him a big round of applause.

2. My day started so many hours ago I'm no sure what day it is now.

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

1. If she puts her hands on me at all I shan't be responsible for slapping her across her face.

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

The Height Of Stupidity

If you're going to have a conflict of interest you might as well make it as big as possible with 2 full pages in a newspaper, 14 storeys of a tower block and a plan that has enraged an entire district of Swindon.

The Swindon Advertiser story on the hope-to-be-but-now-shelved development of the Adver offices on Victoria Road is easily the worst proposed development for Old Town in a generation.

The highlights included plonking a 14 storey tower block of flats within a few hundred years of Christ Church spire, blocks of flats that take no account of the local area's materials or character and a basic misunderstanding that Old Town is the "poor neighbour" of New Town.

Surprisingly, the developer has now withdrawn the plan and will go back to the drawing board. What's more surprising is that the Adver have given the full details of the shelving and have restated that they exist to report the news in a balanced and fair way. Journalistic integrity!

What would William Morris make of it?

Let's hope the revised plans are not simply something low-rise but equally out-of-character to the tower plan.

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 308

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 going to drop everything just because you have a shower and say we're now going out.'

9. It can wait until tomorrow, nobody's going to notice that it's gone missing.

8. Keeping it inside his trousers is about as likely as me getting back to my 1992 weight.

7. Groundbreaking, no, it's just a sandwich.

6. That calculation is not what you'll get in the upper set in maths.

5. There's no possibility that the evening shift will just leave, is there?

4. Draw your own views, but they came into work holding hands yesterday.

3. Without the new automation system the place will close.

2. Mum, when I spoke to him he got air through me, air through me.

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

1. She's got some stupid idea about keeping all the stock stored offsite at a lockup, when head office hear, because I'm going to dob her in, she'll be out on her ear and I'll be your new manager.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 307

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

10. Worse of all there was Sue.

9. Can you remember who your gas supplier is?

8. They came to the door and I said the owner of the property was the Bank of China.

7. Our neighbour keeps coming and going at all hours, I'm not convinced there's not something strange going on.

6. The garden hasn't been touch for so long I can't see the rabbit hutch any more.

5. I say I'm an only child, I know I've got my brother, but please don't remind me.

4. Closure is not necessarily as easy as we might think.

3. I can supervise a huge event like that.

2. Try grabbing it with your leg and shoving it over to the side of the room.

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

1. It's far scarier, they made him wear denim and denim and he's never stopped raving about it.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 306

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

10. Just me and the cat pretending not to look at each other.

9. It protects it with no cover, so the draft keeps it from sticking.

8. You don't need any qualities to do the job, just turn up.

7. A lovely piece of classical music.

6. A sausage roll according to Mary is an evil that must be banished.

5. I already got two boxes of them cheap, now we've got nowhere to put them in the chest freezer.

4. You've got to see these pictures of the way she was dressed on Friday, it'll make you jump off the bus.

3. 27 years man and rude boy.

2. See that woman, she was the one that got me sacked, fair enough I had taken the money, but she was such a cow.

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

1. That's the driver I think is hot, don't you think?

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 305

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

10. It's a slipper slope, I've always said that, haven't I?

9. But there's no goodness in that at all, it's just sugar.

8. I wish I could be like her and her amazing house.

7. That was just for starters, I want you.

6. But that industry has all moved on, it's not like it use to be when you were running the division.

5. Martin thought I wouldn't mind despite not asking anyone else's opinion, or getting it signed off.

4. You need to learn how to keep time or it will never work.

3. We went to KFC first because we hadn't had a proper meal all day.

2. Brilliant, you will not regret what I've got planned for us.

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

1. I kept those shoulders pads for years afterwards, I just thought they might come back in, like ripped jeans.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 304

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

10. It'll be closer and more interesting than you think.

9. There's a lot of power in that office, but not much productivity.

8. She's been full-time, part-time, now she's got no time left.

7. Ganging up on people is never a good idea, unless you've got surface-to-air-missiles in your garden.

6. I got everything that I promised that I would do, so blame should not be coming my way.

5. The detail I was told turned out to be entirely wrong, but they based all their predictions on it.

4. You always under-promise and over-deliver, it makes you look like the dog's bollocks.

3. They're all on benefits, I could live like that and look people in the eye.

2. Keep your coat on, you're not going to be sitting down for very long.

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

1. In light of what happened last week, I don't think it's a good idea we keep seeing each other, it's just too hard on him.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 303

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

10. There are seven categories, but we have to reduce it before it becomes too much.

9. Come with me before I forget and no-longer care.

8. There was something attached to the end of it and no, I couldn't see it in the dark.

7. You need to be as helpful as you can.

6. Try using this one, it appears I'm doing better.

5. Look, it's over there, there!

4. No, it's a rolling attachment, I can come round in the morning and help you take it off.

3. I wonder whether you should bring Paul into this discussion.

2. It's a bit of a cliche, so I've heard.

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

1. I'm two minutes away, but we're waiting in traffic, so you really can't rely on that estimate.

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

The dismantling of Swindon 2 : Now they've come for our libraries

First it was leisure centres, then it was Lydiard, now it's the libraries.

The dismantling of Swindon's civic infrastructure has taken a frightening twist.

Swindon Borough Council wants to cut the budget for Swindon Libraries by 65% by 2020, and wants to save £300,000 in the next year. Eventually, it wants 14 of the 15 libraries to be run by volunteers, with the Central Library being the only SBC-funded library in the entire borough by 2020 (no doubt with less services in it than currently).

That's it. No other option, it would seem, is being entertained by SBC. 

Last year, Swindon Libraries loaned 1,013,108 books. That's 5 for every person in the borough.

Last year, Swindon Libraries had 1,049,172 people visit.

Out of 16 comparator authorities, Swindon Libraries came third for engaging with the public, placing Swindon 3rd for the number of active borrowers per 1,000 population.

Despite being a smaller library service, in the South West, Swindon Libraries is ranked 2nd for number of visits and 1st for the number of books issued.

Swindon Borough Councillors will talk endlessly about making the town better, about vague visions, aspirations and a town we can be proud of with a new museum and art gallery, a university, waves of private sector investment and a town centre that's nice to look at and be in.

Well here's a bit of our town that functions well, actually, better than well, excellently well when compared with library services in many other places and costs us each 3 pence a day. Yes, changes are needed, but cutting out a town's access to a high quality service that serves children, young families, students, the jobless, the socially isolated, the economically isolated, the geographically isolated, the uneducated, the education-hungry, the elderly, ethnic minorities, the poor, those with learning difficulties, those with dementia, the homeless, the new arrivals, visitors, those with low confidence but high hopes, the weak, the ill, the ambitious, the studious, the driven, the curious - the people of Swindon, is a cruel and cowardly act.

Who amongst our councillors will stand and fight against this and for all these people above? 

Do they have the guts? 

Because they certainly have the votes, because we elected them.

Our town's motto is 'Salubritas et Industria' translated as 'health and industry', a healthy town is an educated one, the Victorians knew that, but it appears Swindon Borough Council either doesn't understand it, or doesn't care. 

Maybe they need to visit a library for some help.