ELECTION fever is certainly ‘in the air’ in Swindon and not only for our two MPs.

One third of the council also faces the electorate, which may go some way to explaining the current verbal exchanges between the Parties.

In the latest attempt to secure advantage the Conservatives have suddenly discovered that consensus is the ‘right and proper way to work’ and have offered an olive branch to their Labour opponents by setting up a group to develop a business case for the Thamesdown Drive Extension.

Amazingly Coun Heenan now suggests the Conservatives did not agree with the latest consultants plan with regard to the dualling of Akers Way and Mead Way.

Whilst I am sure he may have had a change of heart, it is difficult to recognise his new stance with that reported in the Swindon Advertiser, when it is stated he said - “let the evidence make the case, which is £15m of improvements targeted to solve the traffic problems along Whitehill Way, Mead Way and Akers Way. “The choice we face is simple, spend £600,000 designing a new £50m road that will lead to longer rush hour delays on Great Western Way, or find an alternative, a ‘plan B’ that is more realistic and achievable’’.

Readers will also notice Coun Heenan’s reference to spending £600k designing the new road – interestingly, his latest comments (SA 28 Jan) suggests the figure was introduced into the debate by his Labour opponents, this is simply not the case.

The figure of £600k is used frequently by the Conservative administration and even Robert Buckland MP is on record as saying he would carry on ‘beavering away to secure the £600k the council, needs to commence detailed design and costings’.

As we approach May’s election – 100 days and counting, as I write – I am sure there will be many more occasions when the words Conservative and Labour are used in the columns of the Adver.

Des Morgan Caraway Drive Swindon