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Reverse this policy

IT IS welcome news (SA April 12) that the United Kingdom Government is investigating the questionable decisions of Swindon Borough Council as to much of its libraries provision.

Congratulations to the campaigners who have achieved that degree of scrutiny of local councillors’ actions.

Perhaps the policy will be reversed as a result.

Yet it remains a great pity that no such oversight seems to have been forthcoming from the Government about the monstrous imposition of entirely new parish councils as an underhand way of raising local council tax above reasonable levels.

In doing that the council has not only acted against the spirit of national guidelines and quite possibly the law.

It has shown utter contempt for the views of the public by creating unwanted parish councils, additional pointless bureaucracy and no doubt reduced services. And it has acted as the very worst kind of monopoly.

If libraries policy deserves Government intervention then surely this vile perversion of democratic accountability does as well.

The parishes policy needs to be reversed. The new parish councils should be halted in their tracks and abolished before they get off the ground. UK Government and politicians please note.

GERAINT DAY, Southampton Street, Swindon

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Council is arrogant

TO REPLY to D Goacher, I agree with what he says. In the space of 12 months I emailed my local councillors, at least 40 times, over problems with parking in Gorse Hill – no replies and no action taken.

I emailed about two years ago to try and get the road markings in Headlands Grove repainted. I’m still waiting.

They may take the view, as stated in his letter, that they do not have to reply or even take any action, as requested.

It was a bit of an insult when, last Thursday evening, I attended the council meeting to be greeted by one of these what I call ignorant people, and was called a ‘bad penny.’ Again it only shows up their ignorance and, indeed, their arrogance.

Write to the council leader on any matter relating to the parish precept fiasco, and he’ll reply that the matter is closed and tell you to get in contact with the parish concerned.

When you do that, as I have done, the parish will only then ignore you again, but to do so is democracy in their eyes.

T REYNOLDS, Wheeler Avenue, Swindon

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Boom will end in bust

SINCE the Conservatives came into power on their own accord in 2015 they have bestowed misery on millions of people and not just the vulnerable and the less fortunate ones, although they have borne the brunt of it.

Despite this, opinion polls suggest that should Prime Minister May call a General Election then the Conservatives would win by a huge majority.

Are people truly prepared to sit back and watch the savage cuts to services while fat cat companies laugh at us with their tax avoidance?

The answer is obviously yes because what the Conservatives have created is a false feeling of wealth with the huge rises in house prices.

People now feel that their big investment has been shrewd and they are basking in the unrealistic growths in equity of their properties.

Prices have been buoyed by a lack of building and a catastrophically long period of low interest rates.

Historically, the housing market has been boom and bust and in the current climate the boom is huge so the bust will be even bigger.

A COLLINS, Broome Manor Lane, Swindon ....

Stop this dominance

IAN Hunt writes to “close the subject” which he opened.

He says he “noticed replies” to his “personal views on Christianity and Muslims.”

There were no such replies. The published replies were corrections to his wrong-headed views on immigration, which shone a light on the vacuity of his opening remarks.

He closes by insisting we all have to accept this is a Christian-dominated country.

Why do we and what does he mean by “dominated”?

Does he favour any particular flavour of Christianity?

Catholic emancipation here in the 19th century led to violent rioting in the streets. Apparently in the good old days Catholics weren’t Christian enough. (For the avoidance of doubt, I am being sarcastic.)

My personal view is Ian Hunt could be a lot happier if he got over his wish to see groups of people being dominated.

PETER SMITH, Woodside Avenue, Swindon

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Read between lines

JUST a quick response to the recent letter from Martin Webb about Marine Alexander Blackman and the fact that his sentence was reduced from murder to manslaughter.

Martin also wanted to educate me about the Geneva Convention. But it is necessary to read between the lines and analyse the judges’ attitude versus public opinion and the massive support from many military combatants or ex-combatants who saw the sentence harsh under the circumstances.

There are lots of unanswered questions to these situations, especially when it comes to Syria and Russia observing the Geneva Convention.

I can imagine one of the pilots, who had previously bombed hospitals, women and children crashing, but surviving, although injured. Do you think the people who were bombed would apply the Geneva Convention if they came across the injured pilot?

Very doubtful indeed.

Like Martin, I have my opinion and he has his but he will not influence to his way of thinking as long as I live and breathe. The conflict of interest ends here.

CHRIS GLEED, Proud Close, Purton