Letters: July 9, 2016

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Our trees are terrific

NEVER mind Swindon being known for its unique Magic Roundabout, its fabulous Festival Of Literature, or its celebrated collection of Modern Art, how many people know about its terrific tree collection at Coate?

Last weekend, as part of a course on trees at Lower Shaw Farm, author and tree expert Dr Patrick Harding took participants to Coate Water to see this arboreal treasure.

“Wow!” he exclaimed, “You’ve got amazing trees here, some rare beauties, ones you wouldn’t even find in Kew! How lucky Swindon is to have this treasure trove, of trees.”

Many of the participants on the course, who came not only from Swindon but also from Birmingham, Bath, and London, were amazed by the trees in the collection.

They expressed delight at having found this collection, of natural works of art, in Swindon.

In case readers don’t know, the tree collection is situated in two fields between Coate Water and the Polo Ground, just behind Marlborough Road.

It was started in the early ‘80s by Swindon arborist John Hammond and is now in the care of the council’s knowledgeable, committed, and ever-helpful David Absalom.

Its more than 1,000 trees include both native ones and beautiful rare specimens from around the world.

They are a joy to see and really worth a visit.

MATT HOLLAND

Shaw, West Swindon

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Cutting edge proposal

SO the councillors are going to vote for a 17.5 per cent rise for themselves – good luck to them.

I would then suggest they all go out and buy petrol grass cutters with the extra money they get.

They would get a good deal buying in bulk and they could then all go out weekends and cut the grass verges and recreational grass in the borough.

Perhaps if there is any extra money they could all purchase some weed killer for the kerbs and perhaps a couple of petrol blowers to clear the grass from the drains.

My own councillor states there are no cutbacks in this service, it is the weather.

Who are they kidding? The borough is a disgrace. Let those who allowed this to happen get out and clean it up.

R ELLIOTT

Merlin Way, Swindon

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Stop whinging at vote

HERE we are after the biggest referendum to hit these shores and what do we get after the result?

The side that lost is asking for another vote to see if the decision can be made to go in their favour.

Would the request be upheld if the remain camp won and the leave camp asked for another vote?

The establishment would say no.

What would happen if another vote was agreed and the remain camp lost again? Would you all start crying again and ask for a third, fourth or even a fifth vote?

Take it like adults, stop whinging and get on with running this country.

Together we can make it work, we have some very clever people in this country who, given the chance will make it work.

If you who are calling the shots now don’t want this country to follow the way the vote went I would suggest you resign from Westminster and let the ones who love this country run this country outside a failing super state.

Yes, I did vote leave and will again if called upon. But watch out remain camp if another vote is called.

We are still here, living, working, going about our daily lives, still the same, maybe a glitch here or there but not the doom and gloom that was blasted at us all if we left the European Union.

A second vote will result in a leave vote by a lot more than the 52 per cent majority.

The way things are the leave camp will be 70 per cent, or even more.

JOHN L CROOK

Haydon Wick, Swindon

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Different perspectives

WE live in strange times. I can remember when a majority vote settled the issue but not, it seems, today.

The decision to leave the European Union has been viewed by people in different ways.

Some are angry, some thoughtful, some provoking and some amusing, but top of the bill must go to the proposal for a second vote because the out vote only won by a narrow margin.

This is something that we would do well to remember if the Party we voted for only narrowly failed to win a General Election.

RON BURCHELL

Crombey Street

Swindon

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Bring back Brexit Boris

THE Vote Leave campaign have shut down too early because Britain does not actually exit the EU for at least another two years.

This is a call to arms for the Vote Leave camp to resurrect the team led by Boris Johnson to continue the Brexit fight and promote the idea of independence.

Over the next two years there will be many questions to answer regarding the principles of independence.

The 17 million people that voted to leave the EU need Boris Johnson to come back to lead us, and stand up for the principles that we voted for in the EU referendum.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon

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Thanks to supporters

HIGHWORTH and District Fundraising Branch of the RNLI would like to thank everyone who supported us at Sainsbury’s on Friday, July 1 and Sunday, July 3.

We we able to raise the grand total of £892.25.

Our grateful thanks to Sainsbury’s in Stratton for allowing us to use their premises for this worthy cause.

JO NOBLIN

Treasurer

Highworth and District RNLI

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Death of a concept

OBITUARY: New Labour 1997-2016.

R.I.P.

J ADAMS

Bloomsbury

Swindon