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Help for pensioners

THERE are now more people aged more than 65 in Britain than those aged 16 and under.

As older people are living longer thanks to better health standards, they are choosing to live independently in retirement housing properties with the support of scheme managers like myself.

I’m proud of the support I’m able to give my tenants so they can continue to lead fulfilling lives in their own home, knowing that I’m there if they need me.

Anchor’s housing managers are raising awareness of the importance of supported housing as part of the National Housing Federation’s Starts At Home action day today.

The campaign, now in its second year, celebrates how supported housing helps hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people regain their independence and confidence.

Anchor and other housing associations are also campaigning to persuade the Government to commit to ensuring every person who needs extra support has a home that meets their needs.

Anyone wanting to find out more about how Anchor managers support older people living in retirement housing properties, can either pop in to my scheme or look online at www.anchor.org.uk

PAT DAVIDSON, Scheme Manager, Beatty Court, Dammas Lane, Old Town, Swindon

Countries need borders

IN REPLY to the letters of Kevin Small and Graham Philpot (Aug 31) may I remind them that the Triple Entente of 1907 was only an informal friendship agreement between Britain, France and Russia?

The Entente Cordiale was not a military treaty. It was just a friendship agreement and did not require Britain in any way to become involved in the First World War.

The definition of nationalism is the desire to have secure borders. This is in stark contrast to those people who support joining the borderless EU Schengen area.

A farmer knows that his fences are vitally important if he is to keep his cattle safe.

If his fences were removed the land would become common land and all the farmer’s cattle would be lost. In truth a farm cannot exist without secure fences around it.

In the same way a country cannot exist without borders. In the Schengen area all border checks are gone. This means that countries in the Schengen area have no control over who enters their country.

Those countries no longer exist as individual nation states. The Schengen area has created a safe haven where ISIS terrorism can flourish as we have all witnessed recently in Barcelona.

It is the objective of the EU to remove all national borders and for the individual nation states in Europe to gradually disappear.

To those people that support taking away our borders I would like to ask them, why do they lock their front doors at night?

You cannot have a farm without fences and you cannot have a country without borders.

TERRY HAYWARD, Burnham Road, Swindon

Visitors struggle here

I AGREE with Helen Haywood from Australia, Swindon is a nowt of a place. I have had the same happen to me.

Someone should rethink the road lane layout at what you call Greenbridge and the two bridges at Bruce Street. What? Give way to the left? The town is a visitors’ nightmare. No wonder the locals drive like dorks.

To me it seemed like there were no speed restrictions, even plainly signed. I also found a lack of traffic police.

I am not saying there are no chance takers where I live but there are fewer than in Swindon.

When I was visiting I read in one of your papers that one of the issues is that council have drivers that run the red lights. These people are employed as professional drivers?

My relatives live in Swindon and I will visit them again.

Hopefully, by then the transport section of the council may have had a re-staff and the infrastructure may improve.

M GREEN, Radcliff Road, Sunderland

Train photograph ban

I WENT to the railway station in order to watch and take photos of the steam engine Flying Scotsman going through, on its way to Minehead.

The lady on the ticket barrier blocked my way and that of others onto the platform, telling us to either get a ticket or a pass. They don’t issue platform tickets now, so it’s a main line ticket or nothing.

Has GWR railways got its public relations in order, or is the now the norm? For a railway town such as Swindon it’s a disgrace.

T REYNOLDS, Wheeler Avenue, Swindon

Thanks for care

I WOULD like to add my thanks to the letter from Letitia Lloyd Turnbull (letter page Aug 23).

I have just spent a week in Beech Ward at the Great Western Hospital recovering from breast surgery and received wonderful treatment and care and compassion from all the staff concerned.

Nothing was too much trouble for them, they were caring in every way and hospitality was extended to my visitors. My sincere thanks for all the care I received. You are all angels.

JEAN BEALE, Lawn, Swindon

Opportunity missed

THE new Forth Bridge has been much in the news. There can be no doubt that the design is spectacular.

The sad thing about this huge project is that the steel came from China. None of the political parties in Britain are very keen to use things that are made in Britain.

The contract for making the steel for the Forth Bridge would have been a huge boost for British industry and would have created a large number of well paid jobs here.

STEVE HALDEN, Beaufort Green, Swindon