Escaped Emu Causes Chaos ; Breaks Speed Limit ; Could Be Transport Solution

An escaped Emu has give Swindon Transport Planners an unlikely idea in the battle against congestion.

Following it being spotted outside the old Renault Building at Rivermead early this morning and unsuccessful attempts to catch the creature, it made a dash for it.

Followed by the Wiltshire Police helicopter it ran over the Gloucester railway line and was spotted again near Great Western Way.

'' It ran back along toward Bridgemead, on the opposite carriageway, passing several motorists and one HGV, we then tailed it across Mannington Rec. We can confim the Emu was snapped by a speed camera midway along Great Western Way at 42.5mph.

Rumours that Borough Council are considering building a dedicated lane between West Swindon and the town centre for the exclusive use of Emus as an alternative to the car hasn't been confirmed, but Emu parking places are being marked out in Granville Street carpark.

Swindon Centric Says ; Now if only we could get a dozen or so Emus trained up to pull a supermarket lorry, we could really cut our CO2 emissions.

Pillar To Post : The Tabernacle Will Return!

The regeneration of Swindon town centre continues to culminate with the Baptist Tabernacle frontage and portico due to return to the town by June or July.

It's expected a contract to formally purchase the stones which have been sat in a Northamptonshire field for years will be signed very soon. The stones will then be transported back, possibly to the Science Museum at Wroughton.

Once in secure storage, the process of assembley will be the next step. It's been agreed with devlopers of the Granville Street carpark site that the stones and frontage will form the entrance to either a museum of art gallery.

The Granville Street development is due to be open by 2010.

Swindon Centric Says : If the stones are fitted together like an Ikea flat pack set then hopefully someone will remember to bring an Allen key and some of those wooden dowel things.