Should Opposition not oppose, Rod?

I was even more amazed to read that Cllr Bluh puts the blame on the Labour group for putting motions forward which are designed to hold the Tory administration to account.

That's what oppositions are supposed to do and if Cllr Bluh’s administration wasn't so inept we wouldn't need to put so many. But it is typical of the council's leader to blame anyone but himself and his fellow for their own failures.

But surely the most astonishing of Cllrs Bluh’s remarks was that the Labour motions were nothing to with the council. Failure to collect green waste: not a council matter? The failure to do anything about Swindon's housing shortage: not a council matter? The failure to allow council workers the right to union representation: not a council matter? The failure to secure future of allotments: not a council matter?

All councillors are elected to represent the residents in their wards. We, in the Labour Group, take this responsibility very seriously. We will continue to speak on residents’ behalf on issues that matter to them, regardless of how long it takes. Cllr Bluh would do well to also remember that he is in a privileged position.

The people of Swindon are not interested in how long meetings take, but how much their council listens to and values them.

Jim Grant Labour Group Leader Swindon Borough Council

...Use time well

I was interested reading the article ‘Time out!’ (26/9/12) in which Councillors Montaut and Pajak claim that the meetings are too long.

In my time as a councillor, I have heard some good debates as well as some very poor ones from the Labour group which have been nothing more than political and with no practical solutions.

Full Council is the forum for debate and should not be time driven as wrong decisions could well be made by clock watching.

Councillors Montaut and Pajak receive an allowance (which I do not see them complaining of) for the role which involves attending council meetings.

Councillor Montaut seems to enjoy himself speaking in the council chamber, as his speeches usually run over the allocated time and doesn't seem to have grasped that you don’t always need to use all of your time (and indeed often more than your time) to get your point across.

My advice to Councillor Montaut is to speak when you need to, make your points clear and concise then sit down and your meetings will be shorter and far more constructive.

Kevin Parry Eldene Swindon

No green support

So the Borough’s parks and open spaces “were a key part” in Rod Bluh’s decision to move to Swindon, (this week’s comment column).

If he considers they have such great value for “relaxing and having fun”; “exercising dogs or taking a relaxing stroll” and “admiring the flora and fauna”, why did he avidly support the Haboakus housing development on protected green open space at Gorse Hill right up until the company pulled out for legal and financial reasons earlier this year?

That’s without the loss of part of the Croft recreation ground; the GWR sports ground off Shrivenham Road and all the other housing schemes that are swallowing up playing fields, green open spaces and countryside, including Coate.

He now promotes “the great outdoors” in his column this week urging “everyone” to vote for Lydiard and Stanton so that the town can receive a Green Flag award. What a nerve!

If Swindon’s parks and open spaces played a major part in his decision to live here, until now, he has given them little mention, yet alone set out to ensure they receive no protection.

I note we won’t see him using any of these to train for Swindon’s Half Marathon because this is “too daunting”.

J Bullitt Tydeman Street Swindon

Poetry thanks

Could I please pay a huge tribute to Matt Holland and Swindon Council for the upcoming Swindon Festival of Poetry, taking place at various venues across the town between 4th and Tuesday 9th October 2012?

This sister event to the Festival of Literature will give a stage for the muse and the di verse (pun intended) talents of numerous people across the borough who enjoy the vocabulary and richness of the English language in its purest form.

Brochures are available at Swindon Central Library, where many of the performances and workshops take place and at all literary outlets where the word is “an ode a day, keeps the doctor away”.

I hope the good people of Swindon embrace this inaugural event and join me in praising the ‘vision’ and zeal of Matt Holland and Hilda Sheehan of Artswords for their determination and continued support of writing and versification in the town. A big thumbs up and thank you so much.

Shaun Butler Gold View Swindon

Help from within

In Mrs Bent’s letter she advises me to ask why “so many people feel as they do”.

If she reads the Council Leader’s column next to her letter she will see that very few people (less than a dozen) have sent in 1300 questions over two years on the subject. Yes, 800 signed a petition but that must be looked at against a population of approximately 180,000 in Swindon.

Mrs Bent also talks about the creation of a more positive future, well a good start would be for the protesters to volunteer as school governors at the Croft School to help drive things forward.

The independent review panel will no doubt have recommendations to make on openness in the planning process.

So let’s wait and see what they have to say. Meanwhile get your pens out and start writing your letters of application to be governors.

Peter Mallinson The Bramptons Swindon

No to canal

As someone born in Swindon in Milton Road medical centre many years ago, I have watched with interest some of the goings on in recent years and feel I must comment on an article about the canal restoration scheme.

Quite some years ago canals became outdated as a means of transporting goods around the country and just became stagnant stretches of water. Swindon’s section of canal was filled in and converted into roads and walkways. Now it seems that a few canal enthusiasts are hell bent on digging a canal in Swindon again.

What purpose this would serve the population of Swindon is beyond belief.

There is talk of missing a once in a lifetime opportunity, a new wildlife corridor, tremendous benefits, amenities for boaters, walkers, cyclists and anglers. Is it possible that we might see someone actually walk on water?

I am sorry to say that all I can visualise is stagnant water, shopping trolleys and heaps of rubbish, not to mention the havoc caused by road closures.

Norman Birt Derwent Drive Stratton Swindon

Free for all?

Why are under 60s Nepalese given free bus passes?

What makes them so special?

We had to wait till we were 60/61 years old so why can they have them?

Isn’t this discrimination?

I cannot see this going away any time soon, so either give everyone free passes or no under 60s at all! Mary MacClay Liden Swindon

Energy bill

New EU Directives require council buildings to be made more energy efficient.

Local councils have no option but to obey these instructions from Europe.

The cost of making council buildings more energy efficient will be £50bn and this will have to be paid for by making further cuts to local council services.

Terry Hayward Burnham Road Swindon

Not so magic

My most hairy experience of the magic roundabout was when I cycled around it with a 12 foot ladder on my shoulder.

I was taking it to a friend in Nythe from Northern Road and the thought of it now fills me with horror – but it was 30 years ago and traffic was lighter then.

Gordon Staples Northern Road Swindon