I suppose you could say this tall tale started on 13 January 2017 with this press release from NPT, still obtainable on their website. It relates to the redevelopment of the old Tesco Express and multi-storey car park building in Neath Town Centre.

Then a similar story was regurgitated in the propaganda rag called "Local Voice" produced by the local Labour Party in the weeks before the 4 May elections. Doubtless to try and somehow stop the stampede of voters away from them.

Here's the front page of that publication, headlining with "news" about the redevelopment of Neath Town Centre. Check that headline. An unequivocal "Brand new retail units to replace old multi-storey car park".

Read the further guff below it and there are no conditional statements, no caveats set out. The old car park/Tesco building "to be replaced by eight new retail units ........Construction ..... is expected to begin at the end of 2017". Anyone reading it would be left under no doubt that development is definite and a likely timetable is even put to it.

Except as often happens when you dig a bit deeper into Labour election promises - all is not that it seems.

Because it appears there is no detailed planning permission yet in place for this scheme. Only an outline permission which I believe was granted back in 2013. The statement put out in January 2017 said that during the demolition phase "the Council will commission a contractor to build eight new retail units....". Strange we've heard nothing of this as yet. Because with an election less than a fortnight away, they'd be shouting it from the rooftops, surely?

So, no detailed planning permission. As far as I know, no scheme even lodged with the council as yet. No contractor announced. Yet we are still expected to believe development will commence by the end of 2017.

Is there even funding in place for this project?

So these statements deserve to be treated with caution. I'm really surprised they haven't been tested and teased out by the official Opposition in NPT, Plaid Cymru. Plaid has some first class candidates standing, from those attempting to win a seat for the first time to those long experienced at the sharp end. But where's the campaign leadership? This was staring them in the face, headlining on Labour NPT's main propaganda newspaper.

It's been picked up already by the public on Neath Voice, the Facebook site set up by Steve Hunt, the Independent councillor for Seven Sisters. And when it was, the Labour Party, through their unofficial spokesman on there, Councillor Andrew Jenkins (the Reverend's Apprentice), seemed acutely embarrassed by the affair and actually named on Facebook a council officer he'd take it up with, concerned they may have been supplied with duff information. That's really bad form to air that on a public forum. It sends out the message loud and clear: "If the shit's gonna hit the fan, let's make sure it lands on council officers, not Labour councillors". Then we subsequently learned there was nothing in tablets of stone at all. No detailed planning permission and no firm date set for development.

Plaid Cymru, or more precisely those that run the election campaign for it, missed an open goal. The game played on.

And here we are now with the second half almost over and a great chance to have scored a corker gone begging. Sometimes I wonder if these matches aren't viewed as competitive by those at the top but as friendlies. The Opposition needs to become more street savvy. If you see a weakness in your opponent, bloody exploit it. Don't sit back as if the Marquess of Queensberry rules apply. If you have to hit your opponent below the belt, go for it. If you think you can get away with a sly boot in the bollocks, do it! Because rest assured, they'll do it to you. I've watched some of the bully boys (and girls) associated with the Labour Party over the years. And they'd have no qualms whatsoever about using foul means to gain an advantage.

Of course, the people who really lose out in the end are not the local politicians from any Party. It's the public get short changed, taken for granted by the ruling Party and let down by not having an opposition that is prepared to make a good fight of it. If Plaid don't want to make it a proper contest, they need to beware. There are more than a few good Independents out there just itching to have a go in their place. And even a few Lib Dems and Tories prepared to mix it up if they have to.