SWINDON Council's deputy leader has been given a new reserved parking space even though he is banned from driving.

Five of the 10 parking spaces in front of the council's Civic Offices on Euclid Street, which were for the public have now been allocated to council bosses.

Now the public have to park at the side of the building 100 yards away.

The council leader and deputy leader, Mike Bawden and Roderick Bluh, the chief executive and deputy chief executive and director of social services will use the spaces while five public spaces are created to the side of the building.

But Coun Roderick Bluh (Con, Dorcan) is currently serving a three month driving ban after being caught speeding four times in three years.

Coun David Glaholm (Lab, Penhill) is angry that the public spaces have been moved and that the decision was taken without discussion in the council.

"The thing that makes me specially angry is there was no consultation about it.

"I also heard that the officers didn't want to park under the trees at the side of the building because the birds make a mess there. The public has been done a dis-service."

Fellow councillor Barrie Thompson (Lab, Parks) is annoyed at the moving of the spaces.

He said: "There has been no debate about this. It is a question of priorities for me.

"I get elderly women on the phone crying about not enough money being put into things like Dial-A-Ride and then money is spent on moving car spaces as a status thing."

Coun Bluh said he was happy for his space to be used and said there were more important things than 'arranging the furniture'.

Gavin Calthrop, spokesman for the council, said the spaces were created as part of a reorganisation.

Five spaces for the public remain in front of the Civic Offices, there are five to the side of the building and six more are due to be created at Wat Tyler House in the next six to eight weeks.

Isabel Field