This morning's phone-in on Swansea Sound generated heat from the usual suspects, but for once it also brought two shafts of light.The first of these came from a more thoughtful than usual Ray Welsby, who at last acknowledged that there is no fourth option to bring Council Housing up to scratch by 2012. This long-awaited admission leaves those opposing stock transfer in a bit of a quandary. Their opposition is now more than ever about political posturing. They have nothing to offer to tenants except false hope.
The second moment to cherish was David Phillips' diatribe on the failings of the Administration. His claim that the Administration are not installing fire alarms into schools because we have no policy was bizarre to say the least. It would also be contrary to building regulations and commonsense.
Still, Phillips' fascination with fire protection measures may well go some way to explain his obsession with the burnt out remains of Penyrheol School. After the fire he made several appearances there, each strangely coincided with visits by the media. It is reputed that he even brought his own hard hat.
Penyrheol School has now been subjected to two serious fires. The first time it burnt down Labour rebuilt it without a sprinkler system. That is not a mistake we will be repeating.
