PLEASE keep your letters to 250 words maximum giving your name, address and daytime telephone number - even on emails. Email: letters@swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Write: Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE. Phone: 01793 501806.

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

Copy letters to council

I READ the Advertiser every day ,mostly to keep abreast of what’s going on in every aspect of Swindon and the surrounding areas, I enjoy reading of our youngsters who are the future and hope of our Town and am often saddened at an old pal or acquaintance who features in the “wrong” column of the announcements, I am very fond of this Town and interested in all of it. and

RECENTLY the letters page has been filled with political bickering mostly surrounding Brexit.

Most of the writers seem to think that making points for their argument in a local newspaper column nine months after the event will change anything. It won’t, move on to what will make a difference to our town in the future.

It is obvious to me that all the letters page contributors are passionate about their beliefs and I am delighted we live in a country that allows those beliefs to be expressed freely.

But can I make the point that a letter in this newspaper will make no difference whatsoever, the only way to change anything is to get out and do something about it (I’m sure many of the contributors do just that) and actually confront what they oppose.

Even getting active will not always get you what you want but it does make people sit up and at least know there are other opinions.

My biggest frustration is our local council, run by handsomely rewarded “career councillors” who, for the most part, are not from Swindon and will not listen to what the people want or prefer and plough on regardless with schemes that I am sure are dreamt up on a whim.

On one hand we get gates and railings in our car parks to keep out the most vulnerable; cameras on roads to catch problem drivers retrospectively, so no solution there then.

An impressive art gallery. However, this is down town Swindon, not Singapore; roadworks where every driver knows the road markings are insufficient, but not whoever planned it.

Massive monies given to the “keepers of the town centre” for its upkeep and to entice new, exciting ventures, well that’s not working then is it?

On the other hand we get libraries and other vital services being cut. Anything that can be sold off is sold off (hopefully the Milton Road baths survive). This town, and we all know it’s not chocolate box pretty, run down and looking shabby.

We are all aware that central government has reduced the monies to the provinces, so just be up front and honest with us, tell us the truth. i.e. We have had to reduce the number of times we cut the grass, not, the grass is growing quicker because of the weather, we are not fools.

Our only choices for change are at the ballot and in this age of career politicians it’s not going to make a huge difference, as they toe the line.

Can I suggest that every letter you send to the pages of the Adver you send to the leader of our council as well. It probably won’t make a difference but he will at least know that we are on his case.

KEVIN EDMONDS

Covingham, Swindon

....

Get priorities right

SWINDON civic leaders should give consideration to the observations from Des Morgan, “Will art be a lure” and Jeff Adams, “Town centre abandoned” (SA January 17).

For decades, Swindon residents have been subjected to the whims and aspirations of those elected to represent our town.

We are told spending £22m on an impractical looking museum building will lead to the town’s salvation.

Despite failing to fund basic services the council has pledged £5m of tax payers’ money towards this controversial project.

Mr Morgan gave a pragmatic caveat when he said, “the supposed economic and social benefits can be overestimated or exaggerated.”

Mr Adams gave a graphic account of the problems and perils associated with walking through Swindon town centre, including the use of skateboards, irresponsible cyclists who endanger pedestrians and litter.

I agree with Mr Adams. Visiting Swindon town centre is a depressing experience. It is a place I visit only for business purposes, never for pleasure.

It is likely anyone looking for a good cultural experience would expect their venue to be in a clean, safe and inviting environment. Unfortunately, the town centre fails to match this criteria.

In my opinion, the council should concentrate on getting basic services right. If used appropriately, the £5m could provide funding for numerous essential town centre improvements.

There is no excuse for poor law enforcement. Cyclists should not be allowed into a pedestrianised area where they jeopardise pedestrians.

They could be encouraged to use cycle routes to the perimeter of the town and provided with secure facilities to leave their bikes. They would then be able to walk the rest of the way into the town centre. Consequently, there would be no excuse for any cycles to be on pedestrianised areas.

If the representatives of Swindon Borough Council are sincere about regeneration and enticing more people into the town centre they need to get their priorities right.

They should provide a pleasant environmental experience by getting to grips with the fundamental requirements.

The proposal for a fanciful new museum is like putting a new engine into an old wrecked and worn out car. Who would want to ride around in it?

K KANE

Wharf Road, Wroughton

....

Burns saw the truth

TODAY the birth of the world famous Scots poet Robert Burns, will be celebrated all over the world.

My grandfather who fought at the Somme, brought me up on his knee when I was a child, on Burns’ quotations. Here are a few with Burns’ intellectual clarity regarding the human race. That have not changed over the centuries.

“Man’s inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.”

“Critics! Those cut throat bandits in the paths of fame.”

“There is no such uncertainty, as a sure thing.”

“Firmness in enduring and exertion is a character I always wish to possess. I have always despised the whining yelp of complaint and cowardly resolve.”

“But to see her was to love her, love but her, and love forever.”

“But pleasures are like poppies spread, you seize the flower, the bloom is shed. Or like the snow melts on the river. There for a moment , and gone forever.”

On a lighter note, I await my twice a year wee dram of whisky. New Year being my other date of self indulgence. As well as my portion of Haggis.

Whae’s like us?

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way, Covingham, Swindon

....

Road has caused crash

WITH reference to recent letters (Jan 7, 11 and 13) regarding the dangerous lack of road markings on Greenbridge Roundabout. The ‘accident waiting to happen’ did happen to me on New Year’s Eve.

I was on the roundabout, having joined it from Oxford Road. I was in the outer lane as I was taking my elderly mum to the retail park.

A car entered the roundabout from Drake’s Way (the driver was from out of town) straight into my path.

As there were no give way signs or markings, they presumed that they had right of way.

They also said they were confused by the pedestrian crossing so close to the junction as, when the lights turned green they thought they could enter the roundabout.

This type of accident had been predicted by many friends, family and myself. To add insult to injury, I had only had my car five weeks as my previous one had been written off by another careless driver (not on Greenbridge roundabout).

I understand that the council has now put up temporary give way signs, but I do hope they take rectify these problems without delay, otherwise I fear my accident will be one of many.

SARAH CARTER

Old Walcot

Swindon

.....

Brexiteers’ climate view

DES Morgan comments on my use of Kipper to describe members of the UKIP, it is common parlance, everyone I talk to calls them kippers.

He also tries to explain what I mean by Brexiteers, very kind I am sure, but he is inaccurate.

By Brexiteers I mean those who campaigned to leave the EU and still roundly abuse us who they call remoaners.

He asked by what authority do I have to write that the above types are climate change deniers.

I have the authority of a free born citizen to say pretty much what I like.

He says I can’t produce evidence of the above and goes on to say it is merely my opinion.

Of course, I have no evidence of the whole country but locally I have the evidence of those who write to these letters pages.

Find me a letter denying climate change that wasn’t written by an avid Brexiteer (please use my definition).

As for his assertion that there is no climate change and anyway it is not caused by human activity I think he is trying to have his cake and eat it.

It is an opinion that needs rethinking.

STEVE THOMPSON

Norman Road

....

Cavemen to blame?

IT IS a shame our ancestors were not advised by climate “scientists” to extinguish there fires while they were busy painting their cave walls with pictures of woolly mammoths.

Maybe if such advice had been given we would still be today viewing the ice glaciers of the Lake District and the Scandinavian ice cap.

There seems to be an arrogance or even ignorance in the assertion that climate change is man made.

NOEL GARDNER

Carlisle Ave