Letters: February 10, 2017

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

Peak times only please

I WOULD heartily agree with the comments made by Mr J Dean (6 February) and Trev Davis (7 February) about the lights on the “new” Greenbridge Roundabout.

In a letter I wrote in early January I did express a hope that the lights would only be used at peak times but such is the wisdom of our wonderful council and the Highways Department that the lights appear to be on 24/7.

How unnecessary it is to have to sit at a red light when there is absolutely no traffic from any direction and also how frustrating it is to have to sit at a red light when there is only light traffic.

A roundabout is surely there to adequately control the flow of traffic from all directions and it is completely unnecessary to have traffic lights in operation at all hours of the day and night.

I would therefore urge the Highways Department to get their act together, come down to Greenbridge and watch proceedings for a few hours each day and then to take a better informed view as to what is really required.

Have a look at Mannington and Bruce Street Bridges where the lights only operate at peak times and let us have something similar for Greenbridge.

MIKE LARGE

Stratton

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It was a family affair

ON Saturday 16th January you printed an article about Garrard Engineering about Brian Mortimer and his father.

Having purchased the book, he mentioned my grandfather William Henry Shrive who was born in the USA. He came back to this country and worked for Garrards the crown jewellers. In 1919 he came to Swindon with Mr Slade to open the Swindon works.

He was at Garrards for the rest of his working life, being joined by my father, his son, who was a apprentice then a toolmaker for the rest of his work apart from the war years, when he worked at Rotol in Gloucester.

I joined the company in 1960 as an apprentice precision engineer, becoming a tool designer, but left in 1978 when I could see the end coming for the company.

ALAN SHRIVE

Swindon

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Food for thought

I READ with concern about the lettuce shortage because of problems in Spain.

I know this will be resolved so no problem as such, but, in the event of another war (heaven forbid), how will we feed ourselves? This lettuce shortage just goes to prove how vulnerable we are food wise. We are building on what were fields used for growing crops. It’s happened near me, this government wants houses built everywhere it seems, even on greenbelt land. We couldn’t “dig for victory” now even if we wanted to, as there isn’t much land to dig.

People have smaller gardens, and a lot have been concreted over for hard standing if they have cars. So no growing there.

I just think we need to be able to sustain ourselves. We are only an island after all.

CAROLE GLEED

Proud Close, Purton

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Friends for a reason

ON behalf of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art gallery, I would like to respond to a comment in the letter from Kevin Edmonds (Advertiser 7 February).

Mr Edmonds writes of the ‘small privileged Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery who are supposedly going to put a heart back into Swindon for a £5m contribution’.

The Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery are a 240-strong and growing group of volunteers from diverse backgrounds who have one thing in common – a strong desire to help the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery care for and enhance the fabulous collections of British modern art and historical artefacts that we Swindon residents own.

We are a small charity, dedicated to the development, maintenance and enhancement of the best possible museum and art gallery for Swindon for exactly the reason that we don’t believe the collections should be limited to a privileged few.

But of course FSMAG is just one of many partners, stakeholders and residents whose support will be needed if we are to see a new museum and art gallery that is truly accessible to all.

If any readers would like to find out more about becoming a Friend for only £10 a year, go to www.friendsofsmag.org

LINDA KASMATY

Chair of the Friends of Swindon Museum and Art Gallery

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Making ourselves heard

CHRIS Gleed in his letter (Focus on the NHS Feb 4) says that the protestors who have been on the streets protesting about the actions of Donald Trump should be on the streets protesting about the way our government is ruining the country. Where have you been over the last seven years, Mr Gleed?

Since the Tories (with the help of the Lib Dems) came to power in 2010 there have been hundreds of demonstrations across the country, countless national demonstrations in London. The next national demonstration takes place on March 4th, defending the NHS against the Tories’ cuts, closures and privatisation of the service.

On Saturday 4th February the Swindon People’s Assembly, like they have been many times in recent years ably led by Kate Linnegar, were in Swindon town centre handing out leaflets to shoppers regarding the 4th March demonstration. So Mr. Gleed you are wrong to imply that there are no demonstrations against the Tories brutal austerity that has created havoc and anger across the country since 2010.

MARTIN WEBB

Old Town, Swindon

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Transport moving ahead

I AM glad the rumours are now settled over the sale of Thamesdown Transport to the Go-Ahead Group. I worked for this company when it was just Northern General Transport. It was a North East company.

When deregulation came into force the company became Go-Ahead Northern and everything else is history. We will most likely see an improvement in services if company policy is followed. Services in the North East are very good. I did a spell on operations and accounts during my time with Northern and a driver. This sale and takeover may be good for the town.

FRANCES REED

Pinehurst, Swindon