Wi-Failed ; Bathgate Council Confirm No Contact From Swindon's Wi-Fi Scrutinisers

Chloroform, oh, I'm sure some wish they were sleeping through this mess.

A simple letter to West Lothian Council has revealed that they received no contact from any of the 'Scrutinising Four' as I like to now call them.

This follows the suggestion by many of those involved in Digital City that the reason the business hasn't been doing well (or okay, or fine, or adequate) is because people have been taking about it.

Swindon Centric Says ; A transparent, responsive, professional local authority, welcome to West Lothian, you are now leaving the Borough of Swindon.

This just remembered...

One of those that decided to wrongly name names about the stalling of the Digital City wi-fi was everyone's favourite North Swindon MP, on the Graham Mack BBC Wiltshire Breakfast Show and Swindon Centric, along with others has the download.

The clock for apologising continues to tick...

Wi-Failed : Swindon Quango Awards Money to Swindon-Failed Business To Do More Failing

Like a bad cheap paper-back, the wi-fi struggles on, sweaty, out of breath and on the verge of collapsing the town's dignity.

Swindon-based quango (that's a government body, with public money, but kept at arms length and told to get on with it) Technology Strategy Board awarded the Swindon Signal project (the failing business that's been given nearly half a million pounds of Swindon taxpayer's money, with nothing to show for it) £331,000 in total.

For the full details, click here.

Swindon Centric Says ; Will TSB withdraw their funding after realising the dog's breakfast of a situation Digital City/Signal/Aqovia are in?

This just in...

Currently the link to the TSB press release (from November, so this is old but certainly not out of date news) isn't working. Are they reconsidering the award of the funding?

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last, Last) ; 188

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

10. There's sun and showers for all.

9. Guess what, she's still his wife, even after all this time.

8. Put your phone away and look at me please.

7. When it got rubbish, you should have changed the channel.

6. It's time for you to just pick yourself up and carry on.

5. In the name of God I don't care at all, just let me read this.

4. We've had this conversation a few times this week.

3. I saw them in New Look, then decided I couldn't buy them and feel ethical at the same time.

2. Corned beef, tomatoes and celery.

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

1. You're on my list of suspects after my packet of biscuits went missing from special drawer, you could be untrustworthy.

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

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last, Last, Last) ; 187

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

10. I think you're doing great, even if nobody else does.

9. We need to end this right now, before one of us gets hurt.

8. She came in after the 5th date and said they were getting engaged.

7. From his marriage to all that's happened with Shelley, the man must be exhausted.

6. Just because the teabags don't produce the colour you're use to, it doesn't mean there's a plot afoot.

5. I should take you on tour with a sound like that.

4. Where did she go, the top deck?

3. The card readers are going, as the tech moves on.

2. I'm just surprised that it took him this long to start talking.

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

1. There's a whole lot of snobbery between Rodbourne and Rodbourne Cheney.

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

Wi-Failed : The Digital City is Offline

For a wi-fi company that's meant to be "innovative", the vanishing of your website doesn't inspire confidence in any potential investors.

But that's exactly what's happened with Swindon resident's-funded Digital City (they have £450,000 of our money), who's website vanished into the clear-blue sky yesterday.

Swindon Centric Says ; A valentine's Day business massacre? Everyone'll be wearing red, so it wouldn't show, got to look at the tiny positives.

Wi-Failed : In Every Medium, The Failures Are Recorded

Online, on the airwaves, and now in print the calls for an end to the Digital City era have been made.

Read Des Morgan's view and analysis of this here.

Swindon Centric Says : Save our Swindon, our money, our name and our reputation, wind up Digital City now.

Wi-Failed : SOS - Save Our Swindon

If the council leader can invoke the Swindon coat of arms and motto, so can any of us.

A review of what the latest level of bizzare activity at Digital City means for Swindon has come to the ultimate conclusion.

Read Geoff Reid's post here.

Swindon Centric Says ; If those involved aren't willing to step-down then it requires that residents step-up and highlight the embarrassment, waste and hostility this project has caused Swindon. This town is ours, those who work, live and grow-up here.

This project is causing serious and deep damage to our town, those involved have a decision to make, see it through the eyes of the people of Swindon and decide.

Health and industry, so our motto is... but is this industrial project about as healthy as a dead parrot?

Wi-Failed : The Case of the Accidental Director, AGAIN!!

Like a Saw film sequel, it just gets worse...

Avidity Consulting, the company that owns shares in Digital City (the company we, the residents of Swindon have a stake in) changed it's Director at the end of 2010. Read Geoff Reid's post here, it's explained far better than I could.

Swindon Centric Says ; How can you give up shares in a company you're no longer Director of?

A line has to be drawn in the sand, end this fool's errand. It was a bad business investment, it was just bad. For the sake of the town, it needs to end now.

Wi-Failed : Mack Holds Digital City's Failures Up To The Light

Congratulations to Graham Mack (BBC Wiltshire) for holding Rikki Hunt to account (click on the first link with the title 'Ricki Hunt talks about Swindon's wifi' for the full interview) for the quagmire that is Digital City.

Swindon Centric Says : A hat tip to Graham Mack. With the reinvigorated efforts from the Swindon Advertiser and now the BBC, it would appear those based on the hill have cleaned off the field-glasses and are peering once again down towards the Civic Offices, well done chaps.

Wi-Failed : No Repayments for 3 Months - Council To Repossess Own Lamposts

October, ahh, the month of autumn, golden days with crisp frosts, crunchy leaves and the ancient festival of Halloween.

Do you remember last October?

If not, you should. It was the last month that Digital City (the business that has £450,000 of public money from Swindon Borough Council, as a loan) repaid anything to Swindon Borough Council.

Swindon Centric Says ; But not to worry, we've been assured a private investor is waiting in the wings to buy out/in Digital City and it's conditional on us getting our money back, as our-councillor-on-the-board has said.

Hold on though, wasn't this the same councillor who said the money was being paid back?

Swindon Centric's probably just light-headed from the private investor promise, Lord Ashcroft-backed investor maybe? Sounds super!

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 186

"I have it on good authority that if you type 'google bus' into Google, you can break the internet"

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

10. I'm not really a fan of him, but he was rather funny.

9. New series of Being Human, yey!

8. There's three reasons he won't go out with you and coming onto me on the way home is going to give her a fourth.

7. They need someone with knowledge of pre 1973 policies, so my job's safe.

6. I thought if people wrote in in big enough numbers it might come back.

5. She drinks far too much and can't remember a thing about it the next morning.

4. Did you remember to remind me about that thing I shouldn't forget?

3. I'd put a fiver on him not coming back, but being on facebook all the time talking about it.

2. I want to get a copy of that book, I'll have to ebay it, amazon is so corporate.

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

1. In 1840, one man transformed travel in Britain, and he wasn't Brunel!

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

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 185

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

10. What's your pin?

9. The whole thing is coming down in May.

8. Keep your hands over there.

7. You want the other side, 24.

6. There are no windows at the back!

5. The report he wanted me to finish is never going to be seen by anyone, so I just filed the file with blank A4 and headed for the shops.

4. That's all your time used up, sorry.

3. I don't quite know how to tell you this, but she doesn't like you.

2. Where did that come from? Aldi? Well, take it back, it's horrid.

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

1. You could have made more of an effort and worn less clothes.

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

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last, Last) Week ; 184

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

10. Stick a needle here.

9. It's a bargain all the time!

8. I really want to meet your mother.

7. There's a streak of crazy running through this town.

6. Time to regift.

5. How do I tell him I think he's the embodiment of idiocy?

4. There's nothing wrong with that, sort of.

3. The wine was non-alcoholic, why?

2. He's the Grandad of the modern estate.

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

1. His birthday card had all the warmth of a government deficit reduction plan, an icy feeling.

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

Swindon Centric For Those With Attention Deficit Disorder

Swindon Centric is now on Twitter.

You can find us at @swindoncentric

Swindon Centric Says : More damage, in less characters!

Wi-Failed : The Money's Ran Out - Official

That's pretty much it really.

After many weeks of promises of "an announcement soon", the straw that broke the camel's back appears to be a combination of Geoff Reid's words on Talk Swindon and (suspected) decision on the running of a story with-or-without comment by the Swindon Advertiser. They did comment.

Swindon Centric Says ; There's no money left, new investors are sought for what Councillor Perkins (who's coming across more and more like the Walker character from Dad's Army) still insists on calling "innovative" (it's not, it's wireless internet, it's been around since 1999).

Two questions now need to be asked :

What's our money been spent on?

and

Is the fundamental part of the council's checks and balances, the scrutiny process (that decided this investment was sound) unfit for purpose?

plus

How rotten are Swindon Borough Council's processes if this has been allowed to happen?

and one more for luck

Will the Swindon Borough Council councillors who openly criticised Chris Watts, Des Morgan and Councillor Steve Wakefield now apologise as this admission now vindicates their concerns?

The business idea itself was just bad, plain and simple. It was a bad investment idea.

Pedestrian Potholes, Fearless Leaders & Sick Notes.

A tremendous new year to all, now on with the important stuff...

The majority of Skanska contractors, who installed the new paving in Regent Street (and initially in Canal Walk) have done the job, but they may be regularly returning (not just for future contracts for other public realm work), but for maintenance on the Leader's New Paving.

The choice of paving slabs was altered by the council leader (according to whispers and despite advice from, you know, engineers), but they're slightly soft, which makes them absorb muck, tire tracks and other debris at an alarming rate. Happily, a budget for regular jet-washing of the paving has been set.

However, if you stroll along Regent Street, up from the fountain, you'll see several holes (no bigger than the size of a two-pence piece) appearing in the middle of slabs which are in the centre of the street.

Is this caused by the softness of the material chosen, the jet-washing, or a combination of both?

Any work on this will have to wait for Councillor Bluh (THE man for micro-managing) to return fully to work, having been scarcely seen since the start of the year.

Swindon Centric Says ; According to Swindon Borough Council employee rules, I'm sure after two days he's provided a sick-note to those in HR, giving his reasons for his absence.

Is there a tick-box for 'leadership challenge' on a doctor's note these days?

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 183

If only parts of Scott Pilgrim had been filmed on the number 15.

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

10. Changes in attitudes and latitudes, I saw it over his shoulder.

9. Do you like asparagus?

8. It's a confidence thing - no one else is as good as him.

7. I suspect they've ran out of double-deckers.

6. The number 13, 14 of 19.

5. Move the eggs to the cloth bag, or you'll be having an undercooked, impromptu omelette on the bus.

4. I haven't seen it advertised anywhere, but believe me, it's there.

3. Jackie said that Hayley had seen Tyrone, she was majorly embarrassed.

2. We nickname it Spiffington Manse, sounds better than The Lodge.

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

1. They've reduced all the 2010 New Year-branded stuff, I bought a bagful.

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

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 182

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

10. Is that you, or a thin version of what I hope you would be?

9. It's howling like a wolf at the vet's.

8. Stacey wouldn't like a set of hair straighteners as her main present.

7. If it explodes, there's going to be presents all over the bodies.

6. Who cares who carves it? Is it going to make him less of a man if M&S have pre-sliced it?

5. The bell will toll for not just thee, but the entire rotten bunch of you, give me it back!

4. Preparing for some Christmas sharin', or words to that seasonal effect.

3. They stop after 8 o'clock, considering the last one's at 4.25pm, it makes very little difference.

2. His reply was as expected, moany, lacking in any interest or respect and via a memo.

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

1. Remember me? I used to run around after you before I realised what a cow you were?

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

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 181

There's more excitement on the top deck.

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

10. It's a buffet, there'll be paper plates I'm sure.

9. Sounds like lift music to me, not that I've ever been in one.

8. Much like the elastic in your pants, it's failing all over.

7. Hold on, my hands are full.

6. Check and see whether he's home yet, if not, we'll go to my mother's.

5. You've got to be joking me?

4. He seemed frightfully surprised, throughout the evening, that I could, and was, dancing.

3. Take your hat off, this is not a film noir.

2. I see that you bought shiny wrapping paper, rather devil-may-care for you?

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

1. It's doubtful it'll be busy, besides, who shops in their, apart from mercinaries and your family?

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

Enterprising New Year Bus Price Cuts!

With buses still running through the snow today, this news of a price cut (yes, CUT!) by Stagecoach in Swindon and Thamesdown Transport seems terribly appropriate.

The 7-day TravelPassPlus (allowing unlimited bus travel on both companies buses within Swindon and out to Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Highworth, Foxhill and a host of other places) is being slashed to £10 between the 9th January and the 5th February.

This is great news for those who commute from places outside the town and passengers within Swindon. The usual price for a 7-day TravelPass in the Swindon area is £13 and for those in the 7-day TravelPassPlus area is £15.

Swindon Centric Says ; Well done Stagecoach and Thamesdown, get saving those pounds in the New Year!