Letters: March 31, 2016

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters. Please note, the Adver will not be printing letters on local political subjects until after the elections in May.

Devolving services

I AM writing in my personal capacity, but as chairman of Better Swindon I have been involved in extensive discussions on the parishing issue.

I produced a list of pros and cons, which I posted on Better Swindon’s Facebook page.

I have also had discussions with Swindon Civic Voice – they have done some work on what constitutes natural communities, which deserves a wider audience.

I attended the recent meeting at Lethbridge School and learnt a great deal from Kirsty Cole’s useful presentation – it is a shame that this information is not more widely available.

Even so, and after all the discussions, I still don’t fully understand exactly what it is I’m being asked to comment on.

In principle I quite like the idea – I used to be a parish councillor.

Although most parish councillors are not elected, I feel they do enhance democracy at a local level – they are certainly held to account!

Discussions are focused on what is best for the local community, and are completely and refreshingly free of party politics.

Borough councillors attend, and offer a good means of engagement with the council.

However, it is clear that creating parishes and devolving some services to them is mainly a means to allow these services to continue, funded by large increases in the parish precepts.

I have great sympathy with the position the council finds itself in, ‘having’ to make huge cuts in services, at least one of which – closing Children’s Centres – flies in the face of evidence that closure results in poorer outcomes for the most deprived children.

At the meeting, several attendees spoke eloquently about austerity not necessarily being the only way, but we are where we are.

The main confusion is around which services may be devolved, to whom, on what basis, who will provide them and at what cost.

I appreciate it’s a Catch-22 situation, for the council as well as respondents – how do you know what to comment on if it isn’t clear, and how does the council develop a proposal without people’s views?

In reply to a question about the administrative costs, the answer was £5-7 per household.

During the discussions Coun Brian Mattock confirmed that no other ideas had been put forward as to other alternatives.

There was a widespread view that the council, along with others, should have objected strongly to the drastic reductions in the Government grant that have led to these measures being considered. Councillors also accepted that so far not a single person or organisation in the non-parished area has come forward to express an interest in forming a Parish.

If nobody does, parishes can still be formed, but run by existing Borough Councillors, with their inevitable political ‘baggage.’

My view is that, as I don’t have enough information, my contribution, sent to cgr@swindon.gov.uk is a ‘NO.’

Apparently very few comments have been received – the deadline is the end of this month, so please e-mail the address I’ve just given.

CHRIS BARRY

The Bramptons

Shaw, Swindon

....

Unfair waiting time

HAVING had a bad dose of pneumonia for the past six weeks, I thought I was getting over it, but felt rough again so asked to see a doctor at New Court Surgery at Royal Wootton Bassett, on Wednesday morning, March 23.

As I am now 72, I was concerned and thought I might need antibiotics again.

I was told very politely by the receptionist that I could not see any doctor; as all doctors are fully booked for the next five weeks.

If I considered it an emergency I could ask to be seen by the duty doctor after surgery or I could wait until Tuesday, March 28, and a doctor could telephone me.

As I did not consider it an emergency I had to take the latter.

My reason for writing to you is, do you think if I changed my name to ‘Jeremy Hunt’ (whose father I served under in HMS Ark Royal in 1970) I might be able to be seen by a doctor quicker?

I am sure he would not be told there is no one available for five weeks, but we’ll get someone to phone you in five days’ time.

This is in beautiful Royal Wootton Bassett, what must it be like in the inner cities?

Wiltshire Council is a disgrace. The idiots in charge have let so many new houses be built around this lovely area and have not given one thought to what is also needed, like additional surgeries, dentists and schools.

It would not be so bad if they even had a pothole or two filled in, they are getting bigger every day.

But I must say one thing in defence of the Wiltshire Council, they have allowed a new tennis centre to be built here. I think it is probably a place for us to go while we are waiting to see a doctor.

A VERY UNHAPPY EX-SAILOR

Royal Wootton Bassett

....

Small pool is needed

SO THE people who own the Health Hydro have decided to close the small pool permanently then?

Obviously a decision thought through in the best interests of the customers rather than in ensuring profit.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in making a profit but surely GLL can see the logic in keeping the pool open?

Children, pensioners, people learning to swim – where are they going to go now?

Yet again the dead hand of Swindon Council has been raised in another stultifying act of stupidity that could have been foretold once they traded in a service providing for their electorate in the quest for a fast buck.

The council with their usual backbone can say that “It's not our concern now” but the ruling party knew what would happen once the Hydro was farmed out to the private sector.

This council really does hold the people of Swindon in contempt.

Not content with making sure that transport links are cut, not content with decimating children's services, not content with reducing standards in local schools, they now turn their bovine heads to curtailing leisure facilities.

We all pay taxes to have services provided for us by our local councils, why can’t these people realise this and not try and ensure that decisions are carried out because of some discredited political dogma?

These people really do live in a parallel universe.

GED MEHERAN

Goddard Avenue

Swindon

....

Rumble strip grumble

I AM sure that many readers are aware of my obsession with the rumble strips in Tadpole Lane and the fact that no one from Swindon Borough Council would accompany me in my car over that area to prove the negative effect to vehicle components over time.

Well, Ben Prater from the BBC accompanied me in my car, over that area and filmed some plastic ducks in water to try to show the effect.

It was not a true analysis, as my reasoning was not of a jolting effect but more a vibratory effect over time.

Ben posted the film on BBC Facebook, and also gave it a mention on air.

I am not on Facebook but I have heard that there are some inane and imbecilic comments on the site, plus some inappropriate language about my situation and the rumble strips.

The problem is that these people would be frightened to consult with me in the street on the same basis but hide behind Facebook.

It is obvious that they know very little about Advanced Driving and I would be willing to discuss those aspects with anyone. The true effects of the rumble strips were not felt through the ducks but it is true to say that it is not the occasional jolt but the excessive vibrations caused over many journeys in that area.

The main objective was to imply that Swindon Borough Council would not have someone accompany me, in my car over that area. Why, we will never know.

Perhaps we can ask some of those on Facebook to meet up with me to discuss the issues.

Perhaps some of those Facebook contributors would like to meet me face to face and drive over the area. Comments like, “Stop moaning and slow down like you are supposed to” plus, other remarks that are too obnoxious to even put in to print.

The point was that we drove over the strips at or near the maximum speed, so there was no illegal approach involved.

CHRIS GLEED

Proud Close

Purton

....

Bigger than Boris

THERE is little point in entering into a debate with Mr Spry after his recent letter, as he will only claim I’m wrong in my figures, no matter what I write or what evidence can be produced in support.

I can assure him, and others, that there is plenty of it from impeccable sources.

However, there is one point that we can agree on.

Like him I do not have much time for Boris Johnson.

Fortunately, despite the image the media loves to portray, the ‘leave’ campaign is far bigger than this one man.

GREG HEATHCLIFFE

Okus Road

Swindon

....

Time to say goodbye

AS OBSERVED during Sky News recently, the security of the UK is dependent upon a long chain of relationships.

Any chain is only as strong as its weakest link, in this case Belgium.

It is now time to say goodbye.

GUY GREEN

Old Town

Swindon

....

Part of the union

READERS, please support a petition that has been started to keep Scotland part of the United Kingdom now and in the future.

Go to website www.petition.co.uk enter section politics view petition “Keep Scotland Part Of The Union.”

If you do not have internet access ask family or friends.

FE SHARP

Plymouth