FORMER Swindon Borough Council leader Roderick Bluh has announced he will be stepping down next year.

The Old Town councillor, who was leader for nearly seven years, between May 2006 and April last year, will not be seeking re-election in May 2015.

He said: “I have decided that, after 11 years, it is the right time for me to stand down and make way for others to serve our borough.

“It will bring to a close a major part of my life with memories I will treasure. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunity to serve the borough in the roles of leader and deputy leader in eight out of my 11 years.”

He was first elected to the council in June 2004 representing the Dorcan ward, comprising Eldene and Liden.

In 2012, he was elected as a councillor for Old Town following boundary re-organisation, and was deputy leader from May 2005 to May 2006 before taking on the role of leader, which he stood down from last April.

“I have met and worked with so many wonderfully dedicated people over the years, much of whose work is never recognised,” he said. “I am proud to have been part of the team that has worked so hard to improve the place in which we live.

“Apart from the much-needed regeneration of the town centre, schools and facilities across the borough, which is on-going, I am particularly proud of the way we brought all the public sector agencies and private sector partners together in ‘One Swindon’.”

However, Couon Bluh’s leadership was not without controversy.

He was leader during the failed bid to provide free Wi-Fi across Swindon, which led to widespread embarrassment and financial problems.

A report, put together by a committee task-group after the saga, said some of the responsibility for the fiasco was down to Coun Bluh, though he did nothing illegal, and was named among ‘victims’ in the document.

But current leader, Coun David Renard (Con, Hayden Wick), who took over the role, said Coun Bluh would be remembered for his positive work.

“It’s a sad day for Swindon really,” he said. “He’s given so much time and commitment to improving the whole borough and it’s disappointing that he’s decided to stand back from public life and I’d certainly like to thank him for his efforts.”

He added: “His biggest achievement was what we’re seeing come to fruition now the regeneration of the town centre.

“A lot of the stuff he started off before the recession is coming to fruition now.”