Category Archives: SWRDA

Northern Arc Ltd. update

Posted on December 16, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

We said on Friday evening that the two Merchant Venturers, John Savage and Colin Skellett, who have seats at the head table of the SWRDA, were currently in talks with Swindon-based GWE to merge their Business West operation with them … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol, Local government, Merchant Venturers, SWRDA | Tagged , , | There are no comments yet

The great SWRDA swindle (reprise)

Posted on December 14, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

A mere three weeks after The Blogger reported something that according to the Cancer only “emerged last week”, our local newspaper finally spills the beans on the SWRDA‘s extraordinary expenses and junketing spending. They say about the regional quango, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Arena, Bristol, Bristol Evening Post, Culture, Developments, Local government, Merchant Venturers, SWRDA | Tagged , | There are 4 comments

No pressing concern?

Posted on December 14, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

The Arena bellyflop found Cancer editor Mike Norton sharpening his crayons yesterday afternoon and attempting to deliver a thunderous editorial on the matter. Here’s a bit of it: So who is going to be called to account for this fiasco? … Continue reading →

Posted in Arena, Bristol, Bristol Evening Post, Local government, Media, SWRDA | Tagged | There are no comments yet

Tonight Matthew we're going to be The Bristol Blogger . . .

Posted on December 13, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

It’s good news for The Blogger tonight at least. The entirely predictable final cancellation of the ongoing arena fiasco gives us a night off. We’ll just leave the commentary to Bristolians who can do it far more eloquently and intelligently … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol, Culture, Developments, Lawrence Hill, Local government, SWRDA | Tagged | There are 3 comments

The great SWRDA swindle

Posted on November 26, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

More news on the the emerging expenses scandal engulfing the South West Regional Development Agency. Freedom of Information requests viewed by The Blogger do indeed confirm that the quango spent £61,000 on a merry little all expenses paid jaunt to … Continue reading →

Posted in SWRDA | | There are 2 comments

Public sector p-takers of the week

Posted on November 25, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

Big shout goes out tonight to our old friends at the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA). Located in rather charming dockside offices at Temple Quay, the wealthy unelected regional quango with the transparent Merchant Venturer connections has found a … Continue reading →

Posted in SWRDA | | There are no comments yet

Our trough: their snouts

Posted on November 6, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

Hurrah! As part of the national Crimestoppers Conference taking place in Bristol last week on the theme of ‘Engaging Hard-To-Reach Communities’, West Country Crimestoppers held a sumptuous black tie reception on board the SS Great Britain “to thank local and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol, Harbourside, Labour Party, Local government, Merchant Venturers, Policing, SWRDA | Tagged , , | There are 2 comments

Who the hell are Choose Day?

Posted on October 27, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

The Blogger’s been receiving various communications, on a fairly regular basis now, about some environmental/global warming event called ‘Choose Day’ launching on the Centre this coming Tuesday. Full details about the event, if not the organisation behind it, are available … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol, Environment, Global warming, Merchant Venturers, SWRDA, The Centre | Tagged , , | There are 14 comments

Golly GOSW! What a waste of money

Posted on July 25, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

Anyone got any idea what the Government Office of the South West or GOSW (pron: goz-wer) actually does? Our best guess is that Oxbridge civil service no-hopers who can’t make the grade in Whitehall are sent down here to keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol, GOSW, Local government, SWRDA, Temple Meads | | There are 2 comments

Public space: how it now works

Posted on July 21, 2007 by The Bristol Blogger

A couple of events this weekend will highlight what’s in store for the future of public space in the city… College Green has been a natural hang-out for the city’s young people and especially its skateboarders for years now. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol, Developments, Local government, Redcliffe, SWRDA | | There are 6 comments