Letters: April 1, 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.

Winning war with ideas

I THINK most SA letters readers must be in awe at the rate Bill Williams writes his letters, almost one a day.

Typical comments are “free-loading, and snout-in-the-trough,” no evidence or facts just emotions as a UKIP supporter.

Now he is joined by Greg Heathcliffe who appears to be following the same pattern as Bill.

In Bill’s letter 24/03/2016 I found myself nearly agreeing with his first paragraph, then he slipped in the word ‘creatures’ to describe the perpetrators of these evil acts.

Sorry Bill, this is not part of the Black Lagoon; these are real people. Mainly young, vulnerable males who have been promised salvation by their ‘leaders’ if they follow their instructions.

Bill is right, no ‘normal’ person would do this. As history shows, many young people following idolised leaders have been brainwashed into thinking their actions are right.

This is not a war of religion, this is a war of ideas and to win we have to win with ideas. We can all help by acting in a positive way to our neighbours.

I can hear the next question, 'who is my neighbour?’ Think it through, my friend.

I think Bill should give a little thought to his idea that people in power should be ‘doing something.’

I suspect they are ‘doing a lot’ but if they tell you and me, then the terrorist will also know!

So, least said soonest mended. If you know something tell the police.

In my opinion this is another good reason to stay in a united Europe.

On the same page David Collins wants to leave the EU so that he can close the borders?

Have a think David; the British Islands have a coastline 20,000 miles long, the Greek coastline is less than 14,000 miles, look at the trouble they are having. Get real, think it through.

Desperate people who are willing to lay down their lives to leave their war-torn-home would swarm over the cold north sea; yes we must be aware of the infiltrators - I’m sure we are.

I don’t know where Greg gets the ‘make it up as they go along’ from the ‘IN’ crowd, I think he must be reading comments from Nigel Farage or Boris Johnson.

We all know that Boris, given a free hand, would cut ‘red tape’ like employment rights, health and safety, welfare and employee safeguards.

Why has he purchased water cannons? Just in case? While who knows what Nigel’s objectives are?

MIKE SPRY

Mayfield Close, Nythe, Swindon

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Concern over plan

IT APPEARS that a company called Rolton Kilbride, at Keypoint, an employment site next to Honda, wants to build a so-called Energy Centre on the site.

It would appear that the energy is to be produced by the combustion of waste material.

Is this indeed a fact or is it a screen for the creation of an incinerator?

This will include a 100ft chimney and will all be within 100 metres of homes in Lower Stratton and close to homes in South Marston and Coleview.

I believe its main business will be the disposal of waste.

What we need to know is what sort of waste? Can this be of the same type proposed at Cheney Manor?

I am wondering what Honda's link is in all this. Remember it wasn’t an age ago Honda wanted to install three-marine style windmill energy generators on the Old Airfield site at South Marston.

And that was well within the recommended area thought to be detrimental to human lifestyle.

There is a meeting on April 3 at Grange Drive Leisure Centre at 2pm to view this idea.

If it is a way of getting cheap power to the detriment of people living in this area it must be stopped. So I urge you to attend.

DAVID COLLINS

Blake Crescent, Swindon

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Parishing email angst

YET again a not inconsiderable section of the electorate apparently finds itself excluded.

Residents of Old Town (and doubtless of other areas as well) have been told that they should express their opinions of the proposed new “parishing” by email.

It clearly does not occur to the council that some people have strong opinions but no email.

I can see that a busy councillor might not welcome too many telephone calls but I am presuming that Coun Elliott is prepared to read letters? That does not seem too much to ask.

MARGARET ANDERSON

Avenue Road, Old Town, Swindon

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Dog fouling dismay

I HAVE complained on a number of occasions to Swindon Borough Council about the amount of dog fouling on footpaths, play areas and now in the gardens of residents in Briars Fields, Farriers Close, Wills Avenue and Copse Avenue without any action from the council.

It seems the council does not have an enforceable policy whereby they can prosecute the perpetual offenders that allow their animals to foul.

When is Swindon Borough Council going to take action and take a zero tolerance towards offenders who continue to let their dogs contaminate our environment?

It is not a pleasant experience to have to clean your grandchildren's shoes of the excrement they have trodden in because of irresponsible dog owners.

DAVID SMITH

Farriers Close, Swindon

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Shortage of housing

BUILDING council houses is expensive and will never make a profit but the young generation must have somewhere to live.

There are 1.4 million people on the waiting list for a council house.

Buying and renting in the private sector is beyond the reach of most young working class people.

Government policies over the last 20 years have created a desperate shortage of housing in Britain.

There is no alternative to the building of many more council houses to replace all those sold off cheaply by previous governments in Britain.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green, Swindon