Tag: Swindon

Having taken a wrong turning whilst peddling frantically along route 45, I came across Mouldon Hill Country Park. A haven of tranquility on the (current) fringes of Swindon’s northern expansion.
Apparently the Swindon & Cricklade Railway will end here soon.

Whilst not the leaflet currently getting the blue nest hot under the collar, the latest glossy from the red nest is full-on negative campaigning. Like their blue nest opponents’ recent glossy, there are finally spun financial statements, with a 20% increase in Council Tax in the last four years compared with a 35% increase in central government funding over the last ten years (which equates to less than 13% over four years — rather less impressive).

And the council is, apparently, failing to clear graffiti. I must have been imagining the ongoing removal campaign by the council…. Oh, they’ll also ‘protect urban Swindon from over development.’ I presume local councillors from the red nest will be asking their government colleagues to reduce the centrally set housing density targets then? Perhaps not….

It seems the New Mechanics’ Institution Preservation Trust may be taking the wrong approach to save the GWR Mechanics Institute. Rather than petitioning the prime minister to save it, they should be campaigning for it to be demolished. If they wait thirty years, a council leader will then persuade developers to rebuild it. Perhaps said councillor should try persuading the developers of Swindon Central to take on the Mechanics in the same way he has persuaded those of Regent Place to rebuild the Baptist Tabernacle.

Whilst I’ve been undertaking an in-depth study of cocoa levels in eggs, the first offering from the blue nest has plopped through my letterbox. A 16 page glossy A5 booklet — clearly they have money to spare. According to the waffle on the back cover they are ‘more green, more local, more family-friendly and less arrogant’. That localness is clearly demonstrated by the vast amount about what they are doing in my ward. A big, vast zero. Not a single mention of anything specific for the people of this ward. (There is a mention of their plans for the canal, but that is primarily for visitors to the town centre — benefit to the inhabitants is just consequential.) Highlight of the booklet is the index that tells me that Page 1 is the Front Page. Wow! Such insight!

I’m less impressed which their spun financial statements, where they compare the figure for three years’ worth of Council tax rises under the previous administration, with one year’s worth of increase under their own administration. Surprise! The rise in one year (3.4%) was less than that over three years (42%). For the record, the three blue years have seen an increase of over 11% compared with 42% in the last three red years, which I’d have thought was a good enough comparison itself that didn’t need to be spun into something bigger.

I also read that “it’s the Conservatives who are repairing, maintaining and restoring the parks, leisure centres and the Wyvern.” Hmm, would that also be the same Conservatives that halted restoration of Faringdon Road Park within months of taking over, when it was only half completed, and have proposed to close the Health Hydro?

Here is komadori’s prediction for the political dialogue in Swindon over the weeks ahead.

Those in the blue nest will claim that everything that the council has done well over the last couple of years has been down to them, in the face of obstruction by the NuLab government. They’ll claim you should vote for them because they’re the only party committed to fighting crime and anti-social behaviour (including graffiti), dealing with traffic congestion and protecting the green spaces in the town centre.

Those in the red nest will claim that everything that the council has done well over the last couple of years has been the result of government initiatives, which the Tory council only implemented grudgingly. They’ll claim you should vote for them because they’re the only party committed to fighting crime and anti-social behaviour (including graffiti), dealing with traffic congestion and protecting the green spaces in the town centre.

Those in the yellow nest will claim that everything the council has done well over the last couple of years only happened because they campaigned for it before the other parties were interested. They’ll claim you should vote for them because they’re the only party committed to fighting crime and anti-social behaviour (including graffiti), dealing with traffic congestion and protecting the green spaces in the town centre.

Those in the other nests will claim that the council has done nothing good over the last couple of years and their party’s one-track agenda would have solved all the problems before they even started. They’ll claim you should vote for them because they’re the only party committed to fighting crime and anti-social behaviour (including graffiti), dealing with traffic congestion and protecting the green spaces in the town centre.

Two of the main parties (the blue and yellow nests) have announced their candidates for the local elections in Swindon. In the imaginatively named Central Ward the three main parties’ candidates are Karen Leakey (from Broadgreen, in ‘Central’), Steve Pipe (from Abbey Meads) and the aforementioned Derique Montaut (from Moredon). So far all claim to be concerned about crime, anti-social behaviour (including graffiti) and preserving green space. Aah, such a diverse choice….

I appreciate this might come as a shock discovery to some but, according to the Swindon Food Bank, Swindon is normal:

Is Swindon unusual?
Official statistics reveal that 13 million people in the UK, live at or near the poverty line, so Swindon is normal. 1 in 6 adults in Swindon and 1 in 3 children live close or at the edge of their finances: one small problem away from a major crisis, such as having no food or not being able to provide basic living requirements for themselves.

It’s a pity they omitted the phrase ‘so Swindon is normal’ from the leaflets they gave out when collecting at the Old Town Co-op store last Sunday, but a worthwhile charity nonetheless.

It looks as though the first demolition in preparation for the Swindon Front Garden development is about to take place. What looks like the beginnings of a road now cuts across either side of Westlecott Farm and a brick wall has been converted to a pile of rubble.The first houses are due soon.

There are six petitions referring to Swindon on the Downing Street petitions website. Ignoring the obsession with trains (three of the six are about train services, real and fanciful), one of the open petitions is to transfer ownership of the derelict Mechanics’ Institute. The petitioners seem to have a novel understanding of the word ‘return’

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to save the Grade II* listed Swindon “Mechanics’ Institution” building, and return it to the people, by helping The New Mechanics’ Institution Preservation Trust to acquire it, by initiating a process of Repairs Notices, with a view to Compulsory Purchase if necessary.

This is a once glorious building and its decline is pitiful — it would be a great asset to the town if it were put to a use. But, except for a short period after closure when owned by the local council, it was privately owned and supported as a member society, though open to others. It never belonged to the people, but to its members and the railway company. To suggest it ever was is to have as nostalgic a view as those petitioning to re-open a local branch line.

Swindon Borough Council has big plans for improved public transport in the town.

A series of ring roads, a giant car park north of the railway and a new bus exchange form part of Swindon Council’s battle plan to tackle gridlock.
As the town prepares to accommodate 35,000 more homes over the next 20 years, the authority is seeking support for its Vision for Transport plan….
Among the suggestions are proposals for extended pedestrian and cycling areas in the town centre.
There are also designs to provide a transport corridor for buses if the canal is given the go-ahead in Faringdon Road….
The [Council] spokesman said: “There is a perception that taking the bus is not a desirable way to get around, whereas trams are nicer.
“These buses ride like a tram, which fits in with our aim of making public transport more popular.”

The local bus company seems to be trying to add to that perception that ‘the bus is not a desirable way to get around’. One of their drivers refused to allow a pensioner onto one of their buses because he was carrying a pot of paint.

“I struggled on to the bus and the driver said you can’t come on with that, it’s highly explosive, you will have to get off”….
Grandfather Mr Stratford, of Wheedon Road, bought the 750ml tin of Buckingham green paint on Thursday morning to coat his garage doors.

Driver stupidity? In part… but also company policy.

Thamesdown’s managing director Paul Jenkins apologised for the inconvenience caused. He admitted the driver was wrong to say he couldn’t carry the paint for fear of an explosion but said it was “discouraged” from buses for fear of spillage….
“It is company policy not to carry tins of paint because of the risk of spillage but the driver was incorrect to suggest it was due to a potential explosion.

When has a pot of green paint ever harmed anyone? More seriously, how often does a brand new pot of paint readily part with its lid, even when dropped?

Thamesdown Transport’s majority shareholder is Swindon Borough Council.