COUNCIL leader Rod Bluh mounted a staunch defence of his political reputation at a mini-hustings held by the Pipers Area Residents’ Association.

Candidates vying to become Old Town councillors in the May 3 elections took to the platform on Saturday morning to tell residents why they deserved their votes.

The 37th AGM was dominated by the row over Croft school, which is being built despite fierce opposition from residents.

Coun Bluh has represented Dorcan since 2008 but is risking his political future by standing for election in the new Old Town ward.

“What you will get from me is total honesty,” he told the crowd.

“I will never put my personal interests before the interests of this borough. I have consistently shown that over the years.

“When my political opponents have challenged the decisions I have made I do it with integrity and I do not say things that will make me popular, like I will support the Croft decision because I think it’s the right decision for the community.

“Whatever anyone thinks, these decisions are not simple, and somebody has to make the decision and stand by it when it’s been made.

“That’s what I do on a daily basis. I do bitterly regret this division over the Croft, it’s not helpful.”

The new primary school is one of the key issues in the new ward, which includes Croft, Okus and East Wichel.

Coun Bluh told the meeting more public consultation had been carried out over the project than for any other school in Swindon.

He said: “I engage with people on a daily basis. I do it honestly, openly and with integrity. I have no axe to grind, I’m not out to further my career.

“I came into this to serve my community and I never expected to be leader, to be honest, I just wanted to be ward councillor.”

Other candidates speaking at the AGM at the Moose Hall also gave their verdicts on the ongoing saga.

Paul Dixon, for Labour, said: “I don’t agree that enough consultation has been carried out, that you have been involved properly and you’ve been given all of the information you have asked for.

“If I was involved I would have opposed the decision.

“If we get into power we would review school places to look at what the whole situation is throughout Swindon because we don’t necessarily agree that decisions have been made on the right information.

“We can’t guarantee we would change the decision but we can offer that we will look at it again.”

Lib Dem candidate Lynda Barber said: “I believe strongly this is an issue pushed through without you as a community being aware of all the facts, all the figures, and a real consultation.

“I don’t mean putting the plans up in the council offices, I mean coming and talking to groups like yourself.

“Would I sign a letter asking for it to be called in? You bet I would.”

Bill Hughes, for the Green Party, said: “Every time it seems this council, whatever the political colour, seems to have this philistine view that massive development on green-field sites is what Swindon needs.”

Ed Gerrard, for UKIP, said of the Croft issue: “We would have had a referendum straight from the start.”