Mayor Patrick GoldstoneMALMESBURY Mayor Patrick Goldstone is in trouble again for not being in the right place at the right time.

Wootton Bassett Mayor Sue Cooksley and a group of schoolchildren were among those left waiting when Coun Goldstone failed to turn up to officially open a new business on Monday morning.

Councillor Martin Snell now says the Mayor's poor timekeeping has let down the whole community.

The fiasco began when Anthony Smith, owner of SPS Stationery, in Malmesbury High Street, invited the mayor to officially open his new shop.

After checking the mayoral diary, Mr Smith was told Coun Goldstone would arrive at 9am to perform the ceremony.

Mr Smith invited around six schoolchildren together with their parents and teaching assistants to the inaugural ceremony.

And he even allowed staff from his Calne and Wootton Bassett businesses to have the morning off and enjoy the special occasion.

However, thirty minutes later, missing Coun Goldstone was apparently uncontactable.

Mr Smith said: "We were all geared up ready to go for the official opening.

"We had a key on a cushion and special buffet laid on. It was going to be an official opening.

"He was supposed to be there at 9am but come 9.30am and he had still not turned up.

"We rang up to find him and the town council said they could not find him. Then, about an hour later, the town clerk came humbly to my shop and told us he did not know where he was. We have not even had an apology from Patrick Goldstone.

"I am a new retailer and employer to the town and it is not a very good advertisement for Malmesbury.

"He chose to take up the office and he is letting the people down. It would be nice to know why he did not turn up. I was more annoyed than disappointed."

Wootton Bassett mayor and store manager Sue Cooksley said: "It is disappointing. We do know not what happened and I have not heard anything yet. Luckily, Alan Woodward, president of Malmesbury Chamber of Commerce kindly stepped in for us on the day. I can only speak for Wootton Basset, but I keep a diary myself of all my engagements and I have regular catch-up sessions with town hall officials to make sure we are organised."

Coun Snell said: "The staff in the town hall do not have the same experience of organising the mayor's diary as in the past because of changes in staff.

Coun Snell added he would be seeking an investigation into the mayor's failure to keep the engagement.

In his defence, Coun Goldstone said town hall officials never told him about the engagement.

Coun Goldstone said: "There was a lack of communication between the town hall and myself. I simply did not know about it. It is unfortunate it happened. I have done 219 engagements this year already and I spend my time lurching about Malmesbury to represent the town. I am very sorry."

However, deputy town clerk Sue Webb said the incident was not the fault of town hall officials. "Patrick just forgot. The shop had changed their mind three times about when he should come, which did not help," she said.