“100% Keynsham should have a 'one way' system and that should be OUT!”

“Yes Roger, damn all those traders and all the jobs, wealth and opportunity they provide for local people. Damn the taxes they pay.

Clear them out of the way so that we can cycle to our jobs in the Council. Never mind what people want, we know better.

You have just embodied everything that is wrong with left wing politics and everything that has led to the ruination of this economy in one simple but highly revealing sentence.”

“That's democracy is it Roger?"

Yes, that's democracy. Not letting decisions be dictated by a small number of traders.

-”

“Moe, every single client of mine manufactures things. No good making the world's best widget though is people who should be your customers don't know you exist or don't know what makes your widget better than all the others. That's why manufacturers use consultants like me - I help make them successful.”

“That's democracy is it Roger? Ignore what people want because we know better. That's certainly what the local Liberal Democrat councils have done time and time again, in BANES and in Bristol. What we always end up with as a consequence is an expensive piece of political dogma that totally fails to provide what people want and need.”

“First thing they should do is get a new architect, unless the retro 1960s dystopia look is deliberate. Second thing they should do is ignore the traders and pedestrianise the High Street - they'll all be in favour of it once it's done.”

“Malcolm, I think Bath can probably survive without yet more independent consultants with parking issues. Who knows - we might even attract companies that actually do stuff and make stuff and generate wealth and everything.”

“Glad it wasn't the Tories who wanted to waste about £50 million on a very pointless BRT scheme. As I recall, the two transport supremos behind the disasters in Bath were Jenkins and Gerrish, now which party did they belong to? Sorry Malcolm, you are beginning to sound ridiculous, making Toryland into a place of love, peace, milk and honey, and Labour or LibDem land as some barren wasteland.”

“@highspeeder Moorland Road and Wellsway this time around can you explain as far as i'm aware the bus lane at wellway was too late to stop as the planning and go ahead was given by the tories, as for morland rd can you explain. i supose you would like to blame the bus lane at odd down on the lib dems aswell that was a million pound lane that don't get used”

“Depressing isn't it Highspeeder? At some point I hope to cease being an independent consultant, hire some staff and open an office. I would love this to be in Bath, because Bath is my home and I love the place. However, realistically, you'd have to be stark raving nuts to open an office in the middle of Bath now, with a council so determined that businesses should not have easy access or places to park for clients and staff, and that they should be charged extortionate rents and rates for this dubious privilege. So Bath won't be getting my investment and the jobs will not go to Bathonians. Shame.

So, where else might I look to? Keynsham could be a fair shout. Good strategic position, low rents and rates. But hang on, what's this, Roger Symonds is about to work his magic on Keynsham too. My clients won't want to travel from all over Southern England on bicycles and on buses, and they won't want to have to park their cars miles away and faff about with precious time. They'll just hire consultants that are sited in offices that are less of a hassle to get to.

Sorry Keynsham, looks like you're going to lose too. But still, at least Roger will be able to pedal his bicycle peacefully along his newly pedestrianised High Street, past all the boarded up shop windows, and not have to be concerned about all those nasty capitalists earning a living.”