This week Thamesdown Transport made a number of changes to its services due to the Tory council slashing funding.
Without public consultation (and despite Thamesdown Transport being owned by Swindon Council), the Number 23 bus service – vital for Okus Road area residents – has been withdrawn.  This is thanks to Swindon Council withdrawing funding worth [...]

Dear Resident
I will never forget that it was you, the residents of Central who elected me as your Councillor for the next few years. I am humbled by the faith shown in me and I am grateful for all the support that has been given to me.

Over the last four years I have forged many good relationships [...]

The Central Councillors have taken a slightly different approach to Street Surgery based on feedback from residents. Some residents felt that Resident Associations seem to get local issues resolved better by working with councillors and other residents in their areas. We are fortunate in Central to have two Residents Associations, one in Broadgreen and one [...]

Swindon Borough Council and the Police have been taking action to tackle under age drinking. At a Licensing Committee meeting on Tuesday 11th May the Police presented the results of some of their town centre activity. Under age test buyers who looked under age attempted to buy drinks in pubs. The Police had warned Town [...]

The Broadgreen Community Police arranged an Empowerment Day on Wednesday 12th May. This was an opportunity for Local Labour Councillors to go into the area with a Police Officer or Community Support officer to help address local issues. The plan was to intervene and take enforcement action to tackle such issues as Street Drinking or Anti-Social [...]

Central Ward will become a ‘Swindon Warm Zone’ from the middle of May.
The ‘Swindon Warm Zone’ Project is a Council initiative to help alleviate fuel poverty through improving levels of insulation/heating and to get the best value out of fuel costs. All private sector homes will initially be contacted by letter and then will be [...]

Swindon Labour candidates averaged 31.0% of the vote in the 2010 local election compared to only 24.4% in 2008.  Mark Dempsey stunningly captured a seat in Parks ward, and newcomer Rochelle Russell comfortably beat off all challengers, including the BNP to win Gorse Hill for Labour.  Overall the Tory share of the vote dropped by [...]

Bob Wright achieved a massive 52.8% of the vote despite being opposed by Tory, Lib Dem, Green and Independent candidates. This was an increase of 8.7% in voting share compared with 2008.
Speaking after the count Bob said “Your support is all I need”:
“I never forgot that it was residents of Central who elected me as [...]

The Climate Action Campaign came to Swindon on Friday (30th April). Ed Miliband (Sec of State for Energy and Climate Change) and Franny Armstrong (Maker of the film “Age of Stupid” and founder of the 10:10 movement) hosted an interactive conversation on climate change.  In 2008 Labour produced and passed the 2008 Climate Change Act [...]

When eventually the dust settles on the Wi-fiasco the simple lesson we may learn is ‘do not make decisions in isolation’. We learnt at the Scrutiny meeting April 8th that Rod Bluh did not take the Wi-fi project to Cabinet because he could not trust his cabinet colleagues.
These are the people he hand picked and [...]