The Shed

A PUNK rock legend who wrote an unflattering song about Wiltshire’s county town of Trowbridge has defended his tune.

Please Don’t Put Me on a Slow Boat to Trowbridge is the title track on former Stranglers frontman, Hugh Cornwell’s new album.

He talks about Trowbridge being like the Black Hole of Calcutta and asks not to be sent to the town, promising to mend his ways.

News of the track met a pretty hostile reception from civic leaders, but most of the comments on the Wiltshire Times and Chippenham News’ website seemed to be in agreement with Cornwell.

He told the Wiltshire Times: “It has always been my view that, as a songwriter, I should highlight things that need discussion.

“I find it’s a healthy thing to do, it creates debate.

“Trowbridge is a bit of a paradox - it’s a very historic place, one of the oldest towns in Wiltshire, it’s mentioned in the Domesday book, but it’s denigrated a lot by many residents.”

Cornwell recently appeared on Radio 2 to promote his album, HooverDam, and joked about the town’s one-way system and said everyone he had met from Trowbridge did not like it.

“I’ve never met so many people who have agreed and put the town down,” he said.

“The one-way system is just one of the things wrong with the town - what’s going on with Mount Crushmore for instance?

“I’ve got very good friends who come from Trowbridge - one of my best friends used to live there.”