This is an exciting time for Swindon, and the Advertiser has launched a series of features looking at the town's future. Newly-elected Swindon Council leader Roderick Bluh speaks to political reporter Daniel Knowles about how he sees the next few years

A NEW town centre, Swindon on the shopping map and the town's heritage questions sorted out are all part of council leader Roderick Bluh's vision for the future.

Coun Bluh (Con, Dorcan) has promised to reconnect the people with their politicians.

"I think the starting point here was when we took over the control of the council," Coun Bluh said.

"Swindon was an economically successful town but was beginning to flag.

"The council was failing. It was failing the community, and it was just a calamity.

"People were paying their council taxes and not getting service for it.

"We had a very tough agenda to turn the council around.

"We need a change of culture. We have changed the management structures.

"We are now a two star and rising council and going for three stars.

"We had to stabilise council tax. Under my leadership that will continue.

"But for all the good news we have a lot more to do.

"Until everything is in the good to excellent category we have no room for complacency."

Coun Bluh said the council needed to do what the people wanted, not the other way around.

He said the way to know what people want is to get them to watch and contact the council.

"We need to refocus on the community," Coun Bluh said.

"It's about what Swindon will look like in 20 years.

"I want to see my leadership as the change that has the council take back its community leadership role.

"The council needs to lead.

"It's the only democratic part in the town. As a major landholder in the town it has a huge part to play in regeneration.

"I don't see this as a big organisation telling people how to run their lives.

"I think people feel the council doesn't have much to do with them and I want to change that. There's a lot of apathy about politics.

"I want people to feel they can contribute.

"We need to change our community. Words come cheap. It's actions that count.

"We have a town centre regeneration."

Granville Street, the college site, has just been sold and the library is going ahead, Coun Bluh said.

"I have lived here for five years," Coun Bluh said. "I have worked here for nine years.

"I'm absolutely committed to Swindon. There's something about Swindon that nowhere else has. It's a certain honesty.

"People here are honest, hard-working people.

"I think we are a big town destined to grow.

"We need to be building communities, not housing estates.

"We need Swindon to be a good place to work, which it is, to live and to play."

Coun Bluh said that Swindon had a reputation for creating plans but no action.

He said the council had nailed its colours to the mast with its 50 promises.

"We have got the 50 promises which is our corporate plan for the next four years," Coun Bluh said.

"The difference is we are delivering," Coun Bluh said.

"We have the 50 promises we will deliver. The 50 promises are non-negotiable.

"There are some people who don't think the library is going to happen.

"Despite the hoardings, one chap told me it he had seen it all before."

"If we don't make Swindon a shopping destination, we will have failed."

Among the plans for Swindon is rebuilding the Granville Street car park and surrounding area into a shopping centre, which dovetails with the New Swindon Company's plans to regenerate the Regent Street, Princes Street, Fleming Way and surrounding areas.

"We are expecting to deliver on Granville Street by 2010," said Coun Bluh. "By 2010 we will have a new town centre. The major works will be done."

Coun Bluh said that the town had to save what heritage remains.

"The Mechanics' is a big challenge," Coun Bluh said. "It goes with Swindon Town Football Club.

"One is a private building and one is a private company. "They are both in need of regeneration."

He said the Mechanics' Institute could not remain in its present state.

Coun Bluh, who used to work as an accountant, said that he had joined the council to "make myself useful.

"I am interested in people not politics but the way to people is through politics.

"As an observer, I was not happy with what I was seeing. I thought it needed people to get involved.

"I'm dead excited. It's the biggest thing I have ever done."

get involved

SWINDON is embarking on what could be one of the most important times in its history.

Plans to transform the town centre are already taking shape.

The Front Garden development is on the verge of taking off, a new university for the town is in the pipeline, and the Science Museum, pictured above, is hoping to become a national tourist attraction.

It is all happening and it's all happening in Swindon. Do you agree with the views about the future of the town expressed here? What do you think the priorities should be? We want you to get involved in the debate.

If you have a vision of your own for the town we want to hear it.

Contact the Adver newsdesk at 01793 501806 or by email at newsdesk@newswilts.co.uk