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Spend cash elsewhere

CAN I thank Hadrian Ellory-Van Dekker for his reply to my request for visitor numbers to the existing art gallery, I am hoping it is just the gallery and not museum and gallery combined or that would be undeniably poor to base such a large sum of money on a number that neither staggers nor surprises at a very low 11,306 for the last recorded full year of admissions.

As I thought, they get the same amount of people through the door in a whole year as Swindon Town get for one decent local Derby game.

Although that comparison may not be the best example considering the diversity of the two it does show our totally out of touch council will nail their colours to the whim that is the proposed giant icicle for a privileged few than spread that £5m around to where it is most needed.

Can I add that as a supporter of “The Arts” with interests in painting and music I understand that those projects are necessary and should be in any plans to enhance our town’s future.

However, with services being cut and the uncertainty of Brexit we should keep as many services for the young, the old and the vulnerable going until we are in a situation where luxuries are more realistic.

Perhaps the Nationwide Gallery or the Honda Museum, funded by them would be a better proposition.

I understand council tax has to rise from time to time and that we need to cut back a little in these difficult times but please don’t treat us like fools and expect us to think that £5m of OUR money spent on a futuristic white elephant in the darkest quarter of a dying town centre will suddenly enthuse 90,000 of us to visit it and revitalise the town.

If that’s really what you think we are all in it deeper than I thought we were.

KEVIN EDMONDS

Covingham, Swindon

Blame Blair and Obama

THIS is what has happened in eight short years of the Obama administration:

Islam is taught in schools whilst Christianity is banned in schools

Prayer rugs are in schools, airports and businesses

Pork dishes are banned in prisons

US courts are inundated with lawsuits by Muslims offended by American culture

Burkas are allowed everywhere

Muslims are suing employers and refusing to do their jobs if they deem it conflicts with Sharia law

The Attorney general of the USA vows to prosecute anyone who engages in Anti-Muslim speech

Is it any wonder there has been an outcry condemning President Trump who has vowed to scrap all these things, which a very doubtful ex-Christian President introduced in a staunchly Christian country?

But what do we expect when we have an Archbishop who seems to think Christianity pays second fiddle to all other religions?

We have Tony Blair to thank for causing all the problems we are now having to live with when he allowed millions of Islamists into our land. And for that I consider I have nothing in our country of free speech to apologise for.

IAN HUNT

Hill View Road, Swindon

Listen to our views

WITH regards to LOC 8 being given planning permission for a Travelodge Hotel, Starbucks and a Subway at the old Barnfield Close site (Swindon Advertiser, March 16,) I went down to the consultation at the Even Swindon Community Centre. Everybody was against it.

What one earth is the point of having these consultations on things if nobody takes a blind bit of notice of what the people think who have to live near these projects?

Apart from the traffic that this is going to create, Bruce Street Bridges is bad enough as it is, why on earth do we need a hotel there? And it is near to the school.

Why can’t these firms just take no for an answer?

I believe they come from Bristol, so that’s OK then, they don’t have to live with what they build do they?And the council should listen to the people that voted them in for a change.

L TOWNSEND

Redcliffe Street, Rodbourne, Swindon

Industry means wealth

THE letters of Peter Smith and Don Reeve (Mar 23) both miss the point that it is British industry that creates wealth.

Manufacturing is not the enemy of the working class. In fact, all the highest paid jobs available to the working class are in the industrial sector.

For industry to prosper it needs government support and left wing governments do not support British industry.

Government help was requested by MG Rover in 2005 but the then Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair just stood by and watched our last British owned volume car maker go out of business.

This would have been the perfect opportunity to have a public private partnership for car production involving the kind of state involvement that exists in France and Germany.

Manufacturing is of no interest to left wingers. Left wingers like Red Robbo Dereck Robinson brought down this mighty company with wildcat strikes during the 1970s.

British manufacturing industry has never recovered from the loss of MG Rover and Britain now has the worst trade deficit in the developed world.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green, Swindon

Money was wasted

AFTER the £1.8m spent creating Sir Daniel Gooch Place, which we were told was to improve the perception of Swindon when arriving by train, why is the area such a shambles?

When travelling towards the bus station both the road and the pavement have patches and when you get to the crossing a pothole was recently patched instead of being repaired, this is now starting to break up.

I can only conclude the money wasted on the upgrade of the station forecourt, which was about £1.8m, could have been spent on something more worthwhile.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED