HOPEFUL members of Swindon Council’s Labour group launched their campaign for the local election in Swindon’s town centre yesterday.

The group, which has 17 members compared to 37 Conservative, is fighting to take control of the authority after the all-out elections on May 3.

Normally only one third of seats are available in Swindon at any one election, but this time every seat – 57 in total – will be up for grabs because of re-drawn ward boundaries.

Labour plans to stand on four key areas: delivering value for money, retaining and attracting new jobs to Swindon, restoring community trust in the council, and protecting the vulnerable.

The campaign launch took place in front of the town centre water fountain as the group say it is symptomatic of what they see as the wasteful spending of the Conservative administration.

Forward Swindon said it was on standby to turn off the fountain should it need to do so to comply with Thames Water’s drought rules and the forthcoming hosepipe ban, which starts on Thursday.

Coun Jim Grant, the Labour group leader, said: “Labour’s central pledge in these local elections is stop the debt, waste and failure presided over by this local Conservative administration.

“Since the Conservatives took control of Swindon Council, they have racked up a council debt of over £100m, despite being left with a budget surplus by the previous Labour administration.

“They have wasted millions of pounds of council taxpayers’ money on the town centre water fountain and the Whalebridge Roundabout. And they have let down the people of Swindon with the failed wi-fi project, which cost nearly £500,000.

“Labour will be offering a clear alternative in the forthcoming elections. Labour’s main campaign priority is to deliver a value for money council. This means taking tough decisions to address the council’s bulging debts, keeping council taxes as low as possible and improving council services, in the face of inevitable budget cuts.

“As well as this, we will also be seeking to restore trust in the council from Swindon’s communities, we will seek to retain and attract new jobs to Swindon and we will not let down our town’s vulnerable people – like the elderly and the disabled.”

Council leader Rod Bluh said: “In 2003 after years of Labour rule this town was one of the 12 worst run places in the country. Now we are one of the best.

“The Labour councillors have not even had the courage to submit an alternative budget in the last four years so no one can have any confidence in their finances.

“The Labour Council left children in crumbling schools with water running down the walls while this administration has built or refurbished 14 schools.

“The Labour council left our elderly and vulnerable at risk with poorly performing services and sub-standard buildings. Not only has this administration refurbished elderly care homes but it put an extra £3.7m in the adult care budget for this year.”

“Labour councillors opposed cutting car parking charges and are trying to halt regeneration by calling for existing plans to be stopped or delayed. Yet, through the £2 for four hours’ parking, the centre has seen a rise in footfall,” he added.