Another attempt to be made to put up Magic Roundabout tree (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Another attempt to be made to put up Magic Roundabout tree
11:50am Tuesday 9th December 2008 in News
Attempting to install the tree at the Magic Roundabout on Sunday
THE stalled plan to put a 49-foot festive fir in the middle of the Magic Roundabout will still go ahead, according to determined council leader Rod Bluh.
But one opposition councillor believes the spluttering start the project has seen is an omen of things to come, and fears it could become a target for football hooligans.
The next attempt to erect the tree will be tomorrow night, with an official lighting-up ceremony on Thursday at 8pm.
It was originally to be erected on Sunday morning but the tree splintered the wooden supports in its concrete base.
Coun Bluh said: “We plan to have a second go at putting up the giant Christmas tree on Swindon’s Magic Roundabout on Wednesday.
“The height of the tree was not the problem when we tried to put it up on Sunday. Unfortunately the tree got caught on part of the concrete base, which caused the base to crack.
“It would therefore have been unsafe to continue. We have now modified the base design and hope that, with a bit of magic, the impressive 49ft tree decorated with 5,500 lights will be ready to be switched on by myself and representatives from V Cars on Thursday night at 8pm.”
But Labour’s transport spokesman Derique Montaut said there were serious safety considerations.
He said: “I think Coun Bluh has been given a golden opportunity to rethink this scheme and see that he is going in the wrong direction.
“There are other parts of the town that could benefit from something like this and I think the money would be better spent in those areas.
“The location is completely inappropriate and I think there are some real dangers here – there is the fact that visitors to the town are often confused by the Magic Roundabout anyway and having the extra distraction of a huge Christmas tree in the middle won’t help.
“There is also the possible problems you could have with the sad minority of people who go to football matches to cause trouble – it could be seen as a trophy to opposing fans.
“Everybody wants to be proud of their town but I don’t think this is the way to go about it.”
Comments(27)
zultan
says...
12:06pm Tue 9 Dec 08
jimmys lovechild
says...
12:09pm Tue 9 Dec 08
zultan wrote:Spot on .Somebody tries to do something good for the town and because Derique Montaut thinks its a bad idea he drags football holligans into it .You stupid boy
I wish Derique Montaut would focus his efforts on doing something/ anything to benefit his ward. Football hooligans? what an idiot.
ItsPavAgain
says...
12:09pm Tue 9 Dec 08
John Smith II
says...
12:25pm Tue 9 Dec 08
I think Mr Montaut should consider:
a) whether his comments should be kept for debate in the council chamber, rather than playing out party politics in the local paper - Mr Montaut you clearly need a spin doctor if you think this is the way to promote yourself!
b) Whether he thinks that putting the idea of damaging this tree into the heads of people is a very intelligent thing to do.
c) Whether using the stereotype of a 'football hooligan' is appropriate for someone in public office.
d) Whether when he says 'I think...' he is representing the views of his constituents or himself.
e) Whether he has any suggestions on how 'the money' could be better spent? - if he has they didn't make it into print!
I think Mr Montaut has really shown himself up, has done a great dis-service to the good people of Swindon and his fellow councillors of all parties and should apologise.
Ian13
says...
12:26pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Labour are always going on about working together, in the current climate it's time to start proving it.
The Mancunian Way
says...
12:27pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Ho hum!
says...
12:50pm Tue 9 Dec 08
I think 6ft is an exaggeration, it was a poxy little thing. I laughed too!
Raif Barnes
says...
1:53pm Tue 9 Dec 08
What a vote winning statement. How out of touch is this person? When was the last time their was trouble at any of Swindon's matches, even the Leicester "trouble" was blown out of all proportion.
And even if there was trouble would the sad majority of football attending people agree to meet in the middle of a busy roundabout to have a fight and tear down a tree?
Where's the festive spirit gone, well done Rod, hopefully all will go to plan this time and I'm sure it'll be a lovely erection that many can enjoy!
The Mancunian Way
says...
2:00pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Pick your choice of words carefully lol
Casual Observer
says...
2:27pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Raif Barnes
says...
2:37pm Tue 9 Dec 08
I'm sure it'd scare off those hooligans that are apparently ready to storm the town!!
Always Grumpy
says...
2:54pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Casual Observer wrote:Which would be far more intelligent than anything you could write!
That Derique Montaut and his clueless comments... if I didn't know better I'd have thought I was reading one of BobFM's posts.
Casual Observer
says...
3:06pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Always Grumpy
says...
3:14pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Casual Observer wrote:Do you want to have a go a re-writing that so it makes sense?
heh heh - anybody thinking you were a suitable judge would sadly deluded.
Casual Observer
says...
3:28pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Always Grumpy wrote:Not particularly - most people would already know it makes sense.
Casual Observer wrote:Do you want to have a go a re-writing that so it makes sense?
heh heh - anybody thinking you were a suitable judge would sadly deluded.
Anyway, since when were you appointed Bob's chicken?
Victor Meldrew's Dad
says...
3:30pm Tue 9 Dec 08
yeti
says...
3:54pm Tue 9 Dec 08
a tree would have been better sited by competant staff elsewhere in the town.
nuddy2
says...
4:48pm Tue 9 Dec 08
zultan wrote:I agree, it would be nice to see Councillor Montaut doing something to benefit his ward.
I wish Derique Montaut would focus his efforts on doing something/ anything to benefit his ward. Football hooligans? what an idiot.
But in all honesty, the real idiots are the people who voted him in. The Ward in which he lived eventually saw the light a couple of years ago, and kicked him out.
yiddo
says...
5:03pm Tue 9 Dec 08
nuddy2 wrote:And those stupid quote he mad about top gear and saints and that
zultan wrote: I wish Derique Montaut would focus his efforts on doing something/ anything to benefit his ward. Football hooligans? what an idiot.I agree, it would be nice to see Councillor Montaut doing something to benefit his ward. But in all honesty, the real idiots are the people who voted him in. The Ward in which he lived eventually saw the light a couple of years ago, and kicked him out.
FiremanSam
says...
6:43pm Tue 9 Dec 08
The Mancunian Way wrote:
On my way to work this morning I noticed someone had put an artificial 6ft tree up in its place, I nearly pi55ed myself laughing when I saw it.
The little Christmas Tree who appeared on Tuesday morning may only have been a tiddler, but after all, size doesn't matter!! We noted that the council workers soon took it away in their van, probably now the main Christmas attraction at Premier House....
Mum's The Word
says...
8:10pm Tue 9 Dec 08
doug on the farm
says...
9:03pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Meldrews Dad
says...
9:33pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Wouldn't it have been nice to have had it floating on a canal barge through the town?
PeeveD
says...
10:54pm Tue 9 Dec 08
3:30pm Tue 9 Dec 08
Let's hope the representatives from V cars know their way there as most of their drivers won't!!!"
The way they have been crashing their cars into anything that doesn't move in Old Town recently I wouldn't be surprised to find one of them replacing the fairy!
FiremanSam
says...
7:34am Wed 10 Dec 08
Mum's The Word
says...
6:37pm Wed 10 Dec 08
Microlite
says...
11:28pm Wed 10 Dec 08
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