Talbotgate.

There are advantages and disadvantages to running a big pipeline project through a Labour-controlled council area. The advantage is that they'll happily toe the ruling party line, and seeing as this is the pet strategic project of a Labour government in London, aided and abetted by a Labour Assembly in Cardiff, it makes sense to fall into line. A few bungs and local contracts always helps to oil the wheels of co-operation.

However, there are disadvantages, too. The main one being that many Labour councillors are extremely twp.

Step forward Councillor Mike James, the Ward member for Pontardawe and member of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

During the recent botched vote to approve blasting with explosives in Trebanos, Councillor James was nowhere to be seen. A new count was held, and the Labour group concocted the perfect opt-out - they passed the buck back to the Department of Trade and Industry in London. They approved the pipeline, after all. Councillor James even proposed the motion.

In the event, the DTI decided to ban the blasting, a vindication of months of local campaigining and detailed research. A new public meeting was held by local group CRAG (Cwmtawe Residents Action Group) to take stock of recent events. Councillor James turned up.

He had many interesting things to say. All of it recorded by an attentive local who had the presence of mind to bring a tape recorder. It's not often you get to savour the words of a Labour Councillor falling on his sword.

In particular, accusing the Head of Planning, Geoff White, and planning officer Nicola Pearce, of "blatantly lying" "incompetence" and "misleading councillors" has to be a first.

But why stop there? He then went on to accuse Head of Legal Services Carole John of having “cocked up wholesale and then trying to cement over it with all sorts of bullshit we were supposed to believe”. Really? Anything else?

Oh yes, and he adds “we have professional paid legal represenatatives and advisors to councillors, to tell them how to proceed and how not to proceed”. “The crux of it is that our officers were lying blatantly about safety features that should have been known about”.

The question has to be asked - are National Grid digging trenches for their pipeline - or mass graves for Labour councillors? With friends like these - does National Grid need enemies?