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Not a nice welcome

READING through the Swindon Advertiser, January 21, I noticed the brief but informative report “Coach travel climbs, thanks to city route.”

It explained that Swindon is one of the most popular places in the UK for coach travel. Booking figures revealed by the UK’s largest coach operator National Express show that Swindon was the third most popular town in the UK in 2016. Tens of thousands of National Express coach journeys were made to and from Swindon throughout the year.

There was an obvious connection between this report and the letter “So inconvenient” from R Cartwright which appeared the same day. R Cartwright gave a well reasoned account of the problems associated with the proposed closure of the gents’ toilets at Swindon bus station.

To prevent closure of these toilets R Cartwright suggested, as happens in Devizes, a small fee could be charged. This seems like a really sensible solution. The public conveniences in Devizes are clean and very well run. They are a credit to Wiltshire Council and their employees who run them. The 20p entrance fee represents value for money. If a small town like Devizes can provide such a good service, why can’t Swindon?

Swindon bus station represents a gateway to the town and the National Express statistics indicate just how many people visit and pass through it. Toilets are facilities which everyone requires. If civic representatives are serious about promoting a positive image for the town they need to start by considering such fundamental requirements.

Turning over from the letters page I noticed the report, “Rubbish could put off visitors to town”, which was accompanied by a photograph of rubbish in the car park opposite the Jury’s Inn. Site manager Andy Slade, who visits the town, said he was disgusted when he saw piles of rubbish lining the sides of a public car park just off Fleming Way.

Mr Slade explained how this rubbish gives a detrimental image of Swindon saying, “You don’t see this in Bath or Bristol”.

A spokesman for Swindon Borough Council thanked a member of the public for bringing this matter to their attention and gave the excuse, “The blowers are currently being used elsewhere in the borough, but we expect to have the necessary equipment over the weekend.”

This is yet another example of how the council is failing to ensure that the town has clean and decent environment.

Until the importance of basic service provision is recognised it seems unlikely Swindon will ever become a destination for people who are looking for a cultural experience.

MR K KANE

Wharf Road, Wroughton

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Don’t depend on the US

THE Prime Minister Theresa May undoubtedly breathed a sigh of relief to be given, although somewhat belatedly, an appointment summoning her to the court of the US President Donald Trump to the hallowed Oval Office in the White House.

This announcement will help to dispel the resentment, and anger, she must have felt at being upstaged by the enigmatic political upstart Nigel Farage, who probably had in mind “the cat that got the cream” on being granted the privilege of an audience with Donald Trump, before so many heads of state.

But then how pathetic and demeaning that historical cultured nations have adopted a stance of dependency and subordinance to the US.

The crumbs of comfort so eagerly sought from the Presidential table have come at a heavy cost, as witnessed with US’ often immature diplomacy under the guise of NATO resulting in the fiasco of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Undoubtedly the topic of conversation will be the increasing tension between Russia and the US when Theresa May meets the President.

It is most unlikely but she should inquire why, since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US has adopted a policy to persuade many of the European ex-Russian colonies to become members of NATO who have in due course acquired US military bases; some of whom, including Poland and the Baltic States actually border Russia.

The Russian President Vladmir Putin, on refection, would be a fool not to regard this as an act of provocation.

GEORGE HUMPHREYS

Purton

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Face up to the truth

STEVE Jack has again written to express sadness on reading criticism of the racist colonial settler state of Israel.

If true, this sorrow threshold explains why Steve so studiously avoids facing the well established history of violence of that state. Steve would be swept away by sorrow.

Axmed Bahjad had done no more than offer quotations from various authorities to highlight the need for solidarity with Palestinians.

Steve Jack ignores reality and employs a method used by tobacco companies. Even when everyone seriously realised the cancer link with smoking, the tobacco firms denied it in attempt to pretend there was still a debate.

The world knows Israel was founded on the terrorist expulsion of Palestinians from their homes. We don’t just have to take the word of Palestinian victims. The evidence is in the statements of Zionist participants in the atrocities. Many years ago Einstein, and many other Jews, determined to show Israel did not speak for them, publicly protested at these actions as they took place.

The fabled offers of peace which Steve refers to, have not stopped the continued and accelerated illegal theft of Palestinian land, and are in fact a smoke screen.

No one has ever denied that Jews lived in Palestine, and indeed across the Middle East, for many years. They lived in peace with their neighbours who held various religions while in Europe Jews often suffered vicious persecution.

What is in dispute is the actions of the self-declared racially exclusive state that is Israel.

You can find good sources of information, including extensive references to the scholarship, in the writings of Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein.

Incidentally, both are of Jewish heritage and the latter lost the bulk of his family in the holocaust.

PETER SMITH

Woodside Avenue, Swindon

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Roundabout result

FOLLOWING my letter printed on Saturday January 7 pointing out the need for give way lines on the new roundabout layout at Greenbridge, Stratton, I am pleased to report that give way lines seem to now be in place and let’s hope it will make it safer.

I would like to thank the four readers who wrote in supporting my letter; our efforts probably had no bearing on the give way lines being put in place but it would be good to think we helped in the decision.

STEVEN BLANCHARD

Woodstock Road, Coleview

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Take it seriously

THE Tory Government is famous for wanting to get rid of “green cr*p” so no way could they be called tree hugging hippies. It is indicative therefore of the seriousness of the climate change situation that the DEFRA has published an alarming report of the risks of climate change to the UK.

In the recently published UK climate change risk assessment report from DEFRA:

The Government says they expect the doubling of heat-related deaths from the present base of 2,000 by the year 2050.

The Government says urgent action is needed to alleviate flooding and coastal erosion caused by climate change.

They also say there will be significant risks to the availability and supply of food in the UK due to extreme weather in the world’s food producing regions.

Climate change is being taken seriously by our Government. Don’t believe me - look it up.

STEVE THOMPSON

Norman Road, Swindon

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My patience grows thin

WELL, what a surprise. The ludicrous so-called Supreme Court has decided it knows better than the British people. I often wonder how many of the present judiciary have ever done a hard day’s work in a factory, down a pit or on a building site, struggled to pay a mortgage, gas or electric bill, not to mention council tax. I doubt there are many, if any.

The British public voted to leave the corrupt gravy train, the European Disunion, filled with similar opportunists at British tax payers’ expense.

I have always believed after a lifetime of experience of acting decisively. Donald Trump, love him or leave him, has made more decisive decisions in five days than Theresa May has made in seven months.

I will be honest my patience is growing thin on this judicial farce that will affect the present inhabitants as well as the yet unborn children of my island, Great Britain. Am I the only one?

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way, Covingham

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Struggle for children

CHILDHOOD should be a special time full of happy memories but for too many youngsters it’s a struggle as they battle with emotional and mental health illnesses and do not get the support they so desperately need.

Barnardo’s is extremely concerned about the scale of the problem in the UK, with three children in every classroom suffering from a diagnosable mental health problem.

Mental health problems can lead to young people being disruptive, difficult, withdrawn and disturbed and it’s vital they are supported and not just ignored or told off.

Those who suffer from a mental health issue are more likely to be absent or excluded from school, or be not in education or training (NEET). They are also at a much higher risk of self-harm or suicide than their classmates.

The Prime Minister made a promise to stop mental illness from being a “hidden injustice in our country.”

At Barnardo’s we want to see a dual approach combining early intervention and prevention and quicker access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

It is essential all schools have mental health services on site as the Government must ensureall young people get timely support.

It is important to work alongside parents and carers so they pick up any issues early and know how to support their children.

We welcome the Prime Minister’s focus on initiatives in schools as the sooner the problems are picked up, the sooner they can be treated. so youngsters can thrive and live happy, healthy lives.

JAVED KHAN

Barnardo’s CEO