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All should be equal

IN response to Steve Jacks letter (Adver June 30) concerning the Tories’ shabby deal with the DUP and their outdated views on modern day society, in particular, their refusal to allow abortion and gay marriage in the Province.

I welcome the Government’s decision to pay for women from Northern Ireland to have abortions in England but it seems rather irksome that this will be funded by NHS England, which is already overstretched, when Northern Ireland has an extra £1bn going spare as part of the pork barrel deal to prop up this failed Tory Government. A strong Prime Minister would have insisted it came from the £1bn or better still forced Northern Ireland into the 21st century on abortion and gay marriage.

Mr Jacks asks: “Why is it so wrong to believe that a child is best brought up under the nurture of a man and woman in marriage”? Nothing at all, as long as that couple can provide a loving and caring home for that child, but how can it be wrong for a same sex couples to raise a child in the same loving and caring environment? Not to mention the loving homes provided by non-married straight couples or single parents.

I acknowledge that some gay activists seek to force their opinions on others – this is no different from other parts of society, and religion’s more zealous wings are prime examples of this. People have a right to their views, as long as they are not preaching hate, violence or seeking to persecute others, just because they are different.

However it is also important to challenge misconception, like Mr Jacks assertion that gay people need sympathy because, after all they are just struggling with their gender identity and same sex attractions. Does he really think that gay people would have put up with so much abuse and persecution over the years, if this was a life style choice? I think not.

KEVIN SMALL, Jennings Street, Swindon

Campaign’s deceit

In his letter (Adver June 30), it is very noticeable that Des Morgan does not address the points that I raised concerning the dishonesty of the leave campaign but rather, as I had suggested in my earlier letter, and also in the manner so typical of the leave campaign, attempts to dodge the issue by once again deliberately conflating warnings of risk with lies, and yet again twisting the words of others.

On this occasion, Mr Morgan has done this by trying to claim that I implicated all Brexit voters in hate incidents after the referendum when I did no such thing.

Mr Morgan also portrays me as a sore loser when in reality I am protesting at both his and the wider leave campaign’s continuing deceit and disingenuity over the EU. Indeed, Mr Morgan once again demonstrates this deceit and dishonesty with his comments concerning the EU’s finances. The EU does not need to extract the highest price it can from us to fill any sort of hole. Both Germany and France are richer than us and could very very easily pick up any shortfall if we do eventually leave.

Mr Morgan needs to realise that as a result of the actions of the Leave campaign, including individuals such as himself, the referendum was anything but democratic and the British people cannot possibly have known what they voting for due to this deceit and deception.

Rather than being a sore loser as suggested by Mr Morgan I am simply standing up for simple but very important values such as truth and honesty, and also being on the side of democracy – three things which Mr Morgan and the leave campaign have repeatedly demonstrated a total contempt for!

As I said in my earlier letter, the likes of Mr Morgan would blame the EU if they burnt their toast!

ADAM POOLE, Savill Crescent, Wroughton

Red light troubles

You frequently report the recurring accidents on Thamesdown Drive, the latest being only yesterday (Adver July 3). What follows is a letter I have sent to the Leader of the Council which I am sure will interest your readers in North Swindon. I would hope if such a meeting can be arranged that press and public can be admitted – at least I will argue for that.

Dear Councillor Renard,

Following a suggestion by local resident Vinay Munro, I have been asked to try to convene a meeting to update the position on red light cameras on Thamesdown Drive.

You will be aware of the recurring number of accidents on this busy high-speed highway caused most often, by motorists failing to stop when traffic lights are at red.

You may also be aware of the willingness of the Police and Crime Commissioner to join with the borough council to enter a partnership to deliver red light camera management.

The well attended and useful public meeting held in the local Member of Parliament’s office on Friday, July 22, 2016 was attended by Dale Heenan on behalf of the borough council. It seems Councillor Heenan’s role has now been taken over by Cllr Keith Williams and we in the Priory Vale Community are unsure as to whether he shares Councillor Heenan’s stated determination to deliver a red light camera management system? Since that very worthwhile meeting it seems nothing more has changed beyond the persistent and ongoing vehicle collisions on the road.

As suggested therefore, I would like to propose a meeting at the Civic Offices, chaired by your good self and would wish to invite the chairman of local councils, ward members and the Member of Parliament so a clear plan to install red light cameras, if there is one, can be outlined and understood by local people.

At the previous meeting Justin Tomlinson agreed to talk to the Minister to see whether some part of any fines could be retained locally to help fund the partnership, so an update on this would be particularly useful. We in North Swindon look forward to your positive response.

JOHN STOOKE, Havisham Drive, Swindon

Something was missing

I HAVE just been to the Blackpool of the Costa Blanca – ie Benidorm – for a most enjoyable week with her who must be obeyed.

We got into Alicante, picked up by coach, and merrily made our way to Benidorm some 50 minutes drive away.

The first thing we found, sad to say, was the lack of pot holes. Not a one did we see. This was something I mentioned on the coach to others around me, and not just myself and her indoors but a dozen or so other passengers could not get our heads around why there was no potholes waiting for us.

We got into Benidorm and my comment was you just wait, there will be some in the town just like home, hundreds of the so and so’s, but no – none were to be found. We drove around Benidorm from one end to the other, dropping people off at different locations, and the discussion was whoever spotted the first pothole take a photo of it and the others would buy the winner a pint of shandy or 2/3.

We are all still waiting for a winner, no potholes to be found, so why can the council leaders in Spain (Benidorm) with the heat sometimes up in the 90’s plus, have roads that are a pleasure to drive on and not be a danger to road users – cars, bikes, motorbikes, even pedestrians.

It baffles me why the Spanish can do it but not one single county council in this country can get this major problem under control.

I would suggest SBC and other councils go to Spain to find out how it’s done, but that goes against my values on freebie trips abroad.

Then again, in this day and age there is always the conference call and video link-up.

JOHN L CROOK, Haydon Wick, Swindon

Help to save lives

If you want to stand out from the fashion crowd, improve your sewing skills or just want a fun way to raise money for charity, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has the perfect solution.

I’m calling on all keen and novice sewers to take part in The Big Stitch this July by heading to your nearest BHF shop, buying an item and injecting your own fashion flair to it by practicing sewing and dressmaking skills.

Every item bought and re-vamped throughout July will bring us one step closer to ending the devastation caused by heart disease. Every year, heart and circulatory disease kills around 15,000 in the South West and currently, 639,000 people in the region are living with its burden so the need to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat these terrible conditions is more urgent than ever.

If you post your ‘before’ and ‘after’ picture on social media throughout July, tagging the BHF on Twitter, Instagram or on the BHF’s Facebook page and using the hashtag #TheBigStitch, you will be in with a chance of winning a Special Night Out at a London West End show with YouTube sensation, Just Jodes for you and a friend.

With around 750 BHF shops nationwide, join thousands of style seekers across the UK, all while learning invaluable skills and helping the BHF fund life saving research into heart disease.

For more information on The Big Stitch and to find your nearest BHF shop visit bhf.org.uk/TheBigStitch

DEBBIE CHEESEMAN, Area manager at BHF