Letters: January 21, 2017

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So inconvenient

RE the Adver of January 18 and the information that the gents toilets at the bus station is to close because of anti-social behaviour and that the nearest one will then be at Wharf Green.

Is this just another way to save money or have the councillors finally lost the plot completely?

Has it not occurred to them that the people that are causing the problem will just go to Wharf Green as well?

We have a great deal of problems attracting customers to the town centre as it is, anyone coming in on a bus from any distance will require a toilet stop with some urgency.

And every coach that picks up at the bus station allows its passengers to get off and use the toilets there. Plus just about everyone, including myself, uses that toilet while waiting to be picked up for a coach trip and there are anything up to 20 coaches a day picking up there.

Most of these coach people are old and could not walk the round almost two-mile trip to Wharf Green and back.

The taxi drivers that park there for ages waiting for a fare, are they supposed to lock their taxi and go for a ten- minute walk? And the bus drivers that pop in and out in between trips, are they to use the toilet inside that is meant for the staff, that would cause a queue inside?

Closing this toilet will not stop the anti-social behaviour in any way, it will just move it, but it will make people think twice about coming to Swindon shopping.

Finally, can I tell the powers that be that a new problem will arise from there being no toilet at that spot - men needing to go will just pop around the back and relieve themselves there, thus adding to the smell of the place.

It’s no good complaining unless you have the answer to the problem, so here it is, should any of our councillors wish to read it.

Copy the idea used in Devizes and charge a small fee to use the toilet, this will pay for a full-time attendant that can keep the toilets clean at all times and stop any misuse of them.

A 20p charge would not hurt anyone if they knew that the toilets were spotless and safe to use at all times.

You could even have a sign saying if you have no change please ask the attendant to let you use the toilet for free, few would actually do this but it would stop any arguing about the charge.

This charge system is in every toilet I have used on the motorways of Europe and works wonderfully well.

A camera on the entrance with a sign saying it is there will stop most problems before they start.

Too simple perhaps for Swindon councillors to understand, so why not just let the town run down until we all stop using it and that will solve the problem?

R CARTWRIGHT

Pinnegar Way, Swindon

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The truth is so sad

I READ with sadness Axmed Bahjad’s letter in Monday’s January 16th edition.

It presented a narrative that the Jewish people supplanted the Arabs in Palestine and painted the leaders of the Palestinian people as peace-makers. On both counts history proves that Axmed is simply wrong.

The Jewish people have lived, worked and died in their homeland for 3,000 years.

And the recent history, from 1917 and the Balfour Declaration onwards, recognised the Jewish people’s connection to the land is indisputable.

Equally worrying is the author’s attempt to suggest that the Palestinians seek peace.

The Arab nations refused the offer of a state of Palestine in 1948; instead they attacked Israel in 1948; they did nothing to create a state of Palestine between 1948 and 1967 when Jordan controlled the West Bank (aka Judea and Samaria) and Egypt controlled Gaza and they attacked Israel again in 1967 and 1973.

Let’s also not forget the first intifada from 1987 to 1991, or the second intifada from 2000 till 2005 that killed thousands.

The Avivum school massacre (1970), the Munich massacre (1972), or the Island of Peace massacre in 1997.

Remember also the hostage taking, plane hijackings, stabbings, shootings and bombings.

Don’t forget that the Palestinian Authority pays convicted terrorists - people that have murdered men, women and children - salaries for their deeds.

And arguably the worst offence by the Palestinians, the use of children as suicide bombers.

Israel has extended the hand of peace many times but as Golda Meir said: “You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”

It’s tremendously sad that people like Axmed Bahjad have been taught such a perverse and fictional version of history because it makes them believe that the Palestinians are the victims.

In truth, they are the aggressors.

But worse still, the sad reality is this: The false narrative that they have been indoctrinated with makes peace even more difficult.

Until a Palestinian leader comes along with the courage to take on the lies and the fallacies created by his/her own people and sits down and thrashes out a peace deal with Israel, the status quo will prevail.

STEVE JACK

Damson Trees, Shrivenham

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Explanation needed

THE other day, I read an article titled “Investing in culture will benefit Swindon” which was written, I’d assume, by the council chief, David Renard.

The article did not have arguments. It was an explanation of the proposed museum. It’s easier to respond to arguments than an explanation because it’s easy to see the inconsistency of the article/speech.

Now, the council chief’s “explanation article” rested on two main areas: The conversation he had with a gentleman named Gordon who supported the museum; and “The economic benefits such an attraction would bring to Swindon cannot be underestimated, which is why it forms one of our Pledges.”

The council chief did not tell us about the estimation of the future visitors of the museum. He only mentioned “whole new audience.” And “we have seen how similar investment in cultural facilities has benefited other towns and we know we can be just as successful.” The council chief writes not a word about the success of the other towns; how, why what and where etc.

He went on to add: “The bold design concept for the new museum and art gallery, which was shared before Christmas, certainly created a lot of excitement within the town, but the hard work starts now.”

Does he mean by that his colleagues or the public? It was obvious by that he meant only the few people who support the plan of the museum.

AXMED BAHJAD

Ermin Street, Swindon

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Election opportunity

IT seems that Swindon Council are to build a new museum at a cost of £20m.

At the same time they are closing most of the libraries in Swindon.

Let’s make the new parish council elections on May 4 a referendum on the opening of the new museum and the closing of the libraries in Swindon.

This is the only opportunity that the people of Swindon will get to voice their opinion on these two major issues. Libraries are mainly for local people while museums are generally for visitors to the town.

I have never been to a museum in my life but I use the local library up to once a week.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road, Swindon

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Spot on, Barrie

AS a fellow moaner (not remoaner), I am an avid fan of Barrie Hudson. However he has surpassed even his normally splendid laments with his Tuesday Jan 17th column “It’s all our fault.”

This slightly tongue in cheek piece sets the record straight as to why concerned local people often end up at GWH A & E. As he rightly says it is not just because people choose to go and sit up there for four or five hours at a time. They are frightened, worried for themselves or, more often, their family, and frequently do just need reassurance they are not on the way out.

Excellent Barry. Only wish I had thought of writing an article with this insight.

JOHN STOOKE

Haydon End, Swindon

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Crisis will get worse

THE British Red Cross and 75 other independent health organisations say social care and the NHS is in crisis. The Government’s response is to attack GP doctors ?for not working hard enough. This is totally inappropriate.

Added to this the BBC was reporting on Sunday that the number of cancelled cancer operations is growing. This is? due to the lack of hospital beds because of the social care crisis.

Last year the number of working GPs fell two per cent while the number of GP vacancies is a record 11.7 per cent. Attacking doctors will not encourage more into training, or persuade others to postpone their retirement. The Conservative attack on GPs is tub thumping of the worst order.

?Of course, it is good news that we are living longer. Our increasing elderly population puts greater pressure on the NHS and social care. ?

?Hunt acknowledges 30 per cent of hospital patients should really be at home, or being cared for in their community. Without better health education and prevention, additional resources, and a more integrated organisation of health and social care, this will get worse.

We urgently need a new consensus. All political parties need to commit to safeguard access to the NHS and its integration with social care.

The former Lib Dem Health Minister, Norman Lamb MP has taken the lead; 20 MPs from all parties have now backed his call for a Health and Social Care Convention.

All of us can add our voices to theirs by signing the Parliamentary Petition at the www.petition.parliament.uk website under Theresa May: Seek an urgent cross-party solution to the health and care crisis.’

Ten thousand signatures will force a Government response; 100,000 will require a Parliamentary debate. Please add your name and get our MPs to work together for all our sakes.”

DR BRIAN MATHEW

Lib Dem Prospective

North Wiltshire MP