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Obama was no saint

Gill Harris, much loved of this parish, thinks that former US president Obama was “kind and saintly” – would that be kind and saintly as in Gandhi or the Pope?

I wonder if Gill is really referring to the same Barack Obama who one week before his presidency ended the longstanding “wet foot, dry foot” policy that allows Cubans who arrive in the United States without a visa to become permanent residents.

Would it be the same Obama who displayed his ‘kind’ credentials on 24 July 2011 by signing into law a Presidential Order suspending ‘aliens’ from seven Muslim countries from entering the US using as his justification these words “I, BARACK OBAMA, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America... hereby find that unrestricted immigrant and non-immigrant entry into the United States of these persons would be detrimental to the interests of the United States”.

A lovely ‘catch all’ phrase which actually requires no further explanation from the president.

I am no Trump fan, but in the real world he is the president of the United States and no amount of name calling is going to change that. Trump’s Mexican wall is no different to Bush’s wall; indeed the major difference is Bush’s wall is for real - it does exist and no protest marches took place in the UK to oppose its building.

Various presidents in modern times have signed executive orders banning or suspending immigrant entry to the US, some for longer periods that the ones signed by Trump. President Carter’s executive order invalidated all visas issued to Iranian citizens for future entry into the United States - even before Trump’s order an Iranian national would have difficulty obtaining a visa to travel to the US.

Gill is quite right to challenge Trump’s policies but simply demonising the man is a tad negative for a serious journalist.

DES MORGAN Caraway Drive Swindon

Crossing is a waste

The report “Wave of anger over puddles at crossing”, January 28, gave a good account of the dangers associated with the persistent flooding which occurs at the new pedestrian crossing in Devizes Road, Wroughton.

This crossing is sited at a hazardous location between two busy road junctions. There are drivers who seem to be reluctant to obey the give way rules at the adjacent mini roundabout and the 30mph speed limit on this section of road it is often ignored.

At the mini roundabout junction, I have recently seen a collision between two vehicles with the police in attendance. About a fortnight ago I saw another minor collision between two vehicles and as I walked by last week I saw a couple of very near misses.

The crossing is situated on the bend of a road. Drivers appear to have difficultly noticing pedestrians waiting to cross. This problem is exacerbated during hours of darkness. The artificial lighting appears to be insufficient and is surrounded by large trees which cast dark shadows.

I do not use this crossing point. I believe it is safer to cross on Devizes Road opposite the Catholic church or on the High Street opposite Moat Walk. At these two locations the road is straighter and visibility is better.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesman said: “The crossing was installed at the request of ward councillors and parish councillors”. The parish offices are situated in the Ellendune Centre which is just 60 metres from this crossing. How can 15 parish councillors be so ignorant of the ongoing flooding problem which is situated right on their doorstep? Why did they participate in the squandering of a large sum of tax payers’ money on this disastrous scheme?

The council spokesman also said: “After very heavy rainfall the area is unfortunately prone to flooding due to a historic drainage issue affecting this whole section of road, which would be hugely costly to address” and “while we appreciate it creates an undesirable situation for both residents and motorists on occasions, the water soon drains away and the crossing is well used and functional for the vast majority of time”.

Swindon Borough Council has a reputation for fobbing off residents’ complaints with pathetic excuses but this explanation, for what amounts to gross incompetence, is unbelievable. It is like something produced by a comedian’s script writer.

A commercial organisation would never get away with giving such patronising flannel. Just imagine buying a washing machine which floods your kitchen floor on every 20th wash. You phone customer care and are told don’t worry it functions perfectly well for 95 per cent of the time. The company producing such rubbish would soon be out of business.

The Devizes Road pedestrian crossing is not fit for purpose. Since its recent installation it has flooded on a number of occasions. It represents a danger for traffic and pedestrians. The defensive excuses offered by those responsible are unacceptable.

There is a consensus of public opinion that this project is a disaster which needs to be resolved.

K KANE Wharf Road Wroughton

May be time to worry

So Theresa May took to the world stage on 27 January telling the world during her meeting with Donald Trump that the interest of working people will take centre stage during her stint as Prime Minister.

This from a woman who has supported the disgraceful austerity policies implemented over the past few years, cuts to benefits which have made homelessness rocket – likewise, poverty increasing, hospitals in crisis, children’s centres closing, the life of every town, city and village being destroyed by her policies and support.

On 28 January she went to Turkey to meet one of the most ruthless dictators on earth, President Erdogan, where she said Britain and Turkey must work towards world peace.

This after she signed up to a £100million arms deal to provide fighter jets to the tyrant Erdogan – doing her part then, isn’t she, to keep the peace? If it couldn’t get any worse, we hear that she has invited the racist and supporter of torture Trump over on a state visit.

With the exit from the EU on the horizon did she rush too quickly in meeting these two vile people to set up trade deals at any cost, whatever their views and actions on human beings, and will these meetings come back to haunt her?

MARK WEBB Old Town Swindon

Autism needs patience

I HOPE readers read the article on Wednesday, 25 January (What it’s like to be a mother of an autistic child).

I live with my foster boy who has autism and lots of people just don’t understand what it’s like for these children because they don’t look any different, people just think they are just being naughty children, but that’s not the case.

In their world some things can be really frightening like sudden noises, hand dryers and so many more, so please try to be understanding and don’t judge.

My boy is my best friend and we do absolutely everything together and I love him exactly as he is. They just need time, love and patience. That’s not much to ask for, is it?

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Focus on the NHS

I see that people are taking to the streets to protest about Donald Trump and his recent actions, and these things do obviously need some consideration and thought, but in my very humble opinion, these protesters would be better employed by protesting about the way this present government in ruining our country and sending their ‘signatures’ to the Government to highlight that feeling.

All the protesters are doing is taking emphasis away from the main problems we face. The NHS is more important than what Trump does!

Obviously the ‘Know Alls’ will correct me but not a bit will I fret about it!

CHRIS GLEED Proud Close Purton Swindon

MEPs acting like children

A LABOUR MEP Seb Dance held a hand written sign up saying “He’s lying to you” pointing at Nigel Farage when he was making a speech in the European Parliament.

This just hammers the point home that this Parliament is nothing more than a school playground made up of clicks of people who because your way of thinking or beliefs are not their way of thinking or beliefs it will open you up to ridicule on this scale. I have never heard of Mr Dance – well I have really thats my Father in Laws name but this MEP I have not, if that’s the way our MEPs act while they are there wasting vast amounts of tax payers’ money salaries, accommodation, travel expenses – the list goes on – then the quicker we pull out of there the better.

How many MEPs do we have there? All the above times average costs per MEP maybe £150,000 to £250,000 per year, a nice saving by any standards when we don’t need MEPs. I wonder what all those redundant MEPs will do then. But then again the Golden Goodbyes you will all get will no doubt keep you comfortable into old age after all you are all in the click.

JOHN L CROOK Haydon Wick Swindon