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Museum not wanted

AT LAST common sense has been seen by those at the top of the bid team for the not-wanted-yet museum and art gallery in Swindon.

Both Mr Hiscox and Mr Ellory-van Dekker realised we are not in a position to pour vast amounts of money into a new build project and then to pour even more taxpayers’ money into the same project to keep it afloat.

I only wish SBC would listen to the majority of residents. This bid, without support from the people of Swindon, was doomed from the start but why then did SBC carry on with the folly of trying to keep the ship floating? It had already sunk months ago.

Mr Hiscox and Mr Ellory-van Dekker did not make this decision quickly to leave this doomed project. I’m convinced they chucked the towel in months ago.
What I’m thinking is how much money has been spent by SBC’s vanity team on trying to launch this and how much will it cost in severance pay or golden goodbyes it is going to cost the taxpayers to complete this farce.

SBC, you have been told by many many other letter writers now is not the time for a project like this. In the future maybe but, while all of us are tightening our belts and doing without a few luxuries, listen to the majority and take on board what we are all saying. People in power who listen win votes.

JOHN L CROOK

Haydon Wick

Swindon


Schools are struggling

YOU recently printed a letter from me about the lack of governance of local schools by local democratically elected councillors, a subject that has bypassed most people.

Equally important, I believe, is who pays the bills: Schools are not ‘Free’ despite the Government’s label.

There have been many stories of late of schools asking for money or goods from parents, illustrating the financial plight many of them are in.

In fact the Adver carried a very heart-felt article by the headteacher of one of the most successful local schools indicating that the curriculum may well have to be narrowed and staff sacked unless the Government gives it more money.

One school requested pupils bring in toilet rolls and the irony of one ‘Free’ school in West London was lost when it asked its parents for £35 a month.

I have difficulty understanding that we have a Conservative Government, indulging in its pet project of ‘Free’ schools while at the same time ordinary schools throughout the country are cutting state education.

Over the next few years the cuts will become greater to the tune of more than seven per cent from the education budget.

And, unless we make our thoughts known to MPs then the situation can only get worse.

We are the sixth largest economy in the world with record numbers in work and paying taxes: surely we can afford decent comprehensive school for all pupils without resorting to begging letters to parents?

BOB PIXTON

Abney Moor

Liden

Swindon

A poet’s praise

THANKS to a school friend, I have been reading Trains And Buttered Toast, a recent compilation of radio talks given by John Betjeman.

His 1937 series of Town Tours included a visit to Swindon. It’s difficult to imagine what it was like then. There’s not much left. Much of his criticism of “speculative builders” and town planners 80 years ago is still relevant today.

The kindest thing he could say about the council was that it spent £1,000 annually on the upkeep of the Town Gardens.

John Betjeman urged everyone to plant trees to green up their neighbourhood.

He would be appalled that so many houses are built these days without enough garden for children to play in and so many apartment blocks are surrounded by roads and a few ribbons of grass and shrubbery (in case pets are allowed) and with play areas only safe if children are accompanied by parents.

At the beginning of his talk on Swindon on May 5 1937, JB said: “The people of Swindon are some of the pleasantest and politest you will ever come across.”

If that’s still true, we achieved something important after all.

JOHN DAVIES

Byron Avenue

Royal Wootton Bassett

Rover’s loss hit us hard

THE history of MG Rover was covered in great detail by Don Reeve (April 12).

Where we disagree is whether MG Rover should have been helped by Tony Blair in 2005.

When Tony Blair decided to shut down MG Rover in 2005 Britain lost its last remaining British owned volume car maker.

All British car makers are now foreign owned companies. Much of the work in Britain today is simply assembling parts imported from abroad.
This has been a huge shock for Britain’s trade deficit. When companies are foreign owned it means that all the profits are remitted back to their foreign owners.

This is money going out of the country and adds to our deficit. This increases the National Debt which is rapidly approaching £2 trillion.

The truth is that the British economy has never recovered from the closure of MG Rover.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green

Swindon

Soldier had no choice

IN MY recent letter in reply to Martin Webb, I forgot to mention that Martin has it completely incorrect in his analysis and definition of what a conscientious objector is.

I stated that Alexander Blackman did not have a choice. Martin suggested that he did have a choice as a conscientious objector.

Martin tried to educate me on the subject of the Geneva Convention but can I suggest that he looks up the definition of a conscientious objector and see that, under that proviso, Alexander Blackman did not have a choice.

CHRIS GLEED

Proud Close

Purton