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Museum not supported

AS I read the report “’You must show results’, firm told”, (SA April 4), I began to think about the terminology, aims, and achievements of Forward Swindon’s “ambitious” plans for the regeneration of the town centre.

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson reminded us, “We’ve had 15 years of promises from Forward Swindon with regard to delivering town centre regeneration.”

Forward implies progressing towards a successful conclusion but as I thought about town centre regeneration I was reminded of the second verse of The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Forward The Light Brigade Was there a man dismay’d?

Not tho’ the soldier knew Someone had blunder’d: Theirs not to make reply Theirs but to do and die: Into the valley of Death Rode the six hundred.

The analogy seemed so appropriate as it reminded me of the follies of history and how they occur.

Those in charge of Swindon town centre regeneration have blundered for years. The public have been kept in the dark and had their opinions ignored. Incompetent decision making has led to a disastrous conclusion for, and the near death of, the town centre.

Museum and gallery trust chairman Robert Hiscox gave a flowery and subjective account saying: “The capital investment by Swindon Borough Council into this new museum and gallery would be rewarded handsomely by increased economic activity to the benefit of all, but especially to the council (which belongs to the people of Swindon) which owns a considerable property portfolio.

“Business rents and rates will increase, shops and restaurants will flourish with visitors and locals revelling in the smell of great coffee, the taste of delicious food and the sensory delights of beautiful and interesting things to see and experience.

The revival of the town will encourage investment in other heritage assets and re-position Swindon as a thriving cultural concern - a place people will love to live, work and visit.”

Mr Hiscox’s account has no tangible basis. It is an opinion-based prediction similar to that of someone foretelling the future by the reading of tarot cards, rune stones or a crystal ball.

Hadrian Ellory-van Dekker, the director of Swindon Museum And Art Gallery Trust, adds to this unsubstantiated opinion by saying: “Our new museum will be an inspiring building that puts new life into the town centre, rather than around the Outlet Centre, creating a Cultural Quarter with new facilities that will attract visitors from within the town and beyond.”

As representatives of the Museum And Art Gallery Trust both Mr Hiscox and Mr Dekker have a mission to promote this project regardless of public opinion.

They need to study Swindon’s planning history to understand why there is such an adverse reaction to their project.

They may have the support of our, out of touch, civic leaders but I don’t believe they will get support from the majority of the Swindon public. I would rather see the money spent on basic service provision.

K KANE Wharf Road, Wroughton

Question about God

I HAD to smile when I read the Rev Gibbons’ article about sending messages to him so he could pass it on to the Lord by text.

I was told when I was a small child sat on my mother’s knee saying my prayers that the Lord could hear me.

If I said them wrong I got a slap! When my granddad came to stay, being a lay preacher, we would go to Emanuel Church on Sunday mornings. I would then have to go to Sunday school in the afternoons and church again in the evening. My mother and father never came.

As children we had nothing to do on a Sunday as all the swings, roundabouts and bucking horse were chained up in the parks. Today we all go shopping.

At about the age of ten, I started to question some of the things that I had been told.

I asked the question: Where did God come from? I was never given an answer. So I came to the conclusion that God was man-made. I would still like an answer that makes sense.

JANET WOODHAM Scotby Avenue, Swindon

Is it right to kill people?

THE latest letter directed at Peter Smith illustrates the hypocrisy of those who support racist regimes that terminate the Palestinian people so the Jewish people of Europe and North America can live in their land.

In 2008, 1,500 Palestinian people were killed, most of them civilians. In 2014, 3,000 were murdered and 700 were children.

There are two related questions for James J Marlow and Steve Jack: 1. Is it right to kill innocent Palestinian people?

2. If not, why don’t you condemn the barbaric actions which have been done in the name of creating a Jewish homeland for the last 70 years?

AXMED BAHJAD Fleet Street Swindon

Raise interest rates

IT SEEMS that the Unite Union is to organise a series of five strikes in April and May at the BMW car plant in Swindon. This is reminiscent of endless strikes in the 1970s that destroyed the British Leyland car maker.

The British industrial system has failed to find a way for workers and bosses to work in partnership. Manufacturing has prospered in other countries, especially Germany, but in Britain it ends in strikes.

The dispute is about the final salary pension scheme. All pension schemes were hit by additional taxation in 1997 and many have closed.

Low interest rates have also hit pension schemes. All pension schemes are now in financial trouble because there is nowhere they can invest their funds and get a decent rate of return.

The best way out of this industrial dispute is to raise interest rates so the BMW pension fund can invest the money and get a reasonable interest rate.

STEVE HALDEN Beaufort Green, Swindon

Christians are leaving

RE ‘HERE are some Christian facts’. ( Steve Thompson Adver. 5/4/17).

I don’t know exactly what Mr Thompson is attempting to prove by quoting meaningless percentages of Christians living in Middle Eastern countries.

Take Pakistan. It is estimated that there alone every year 700 Christian girls are kidnapped, forcibly converted to Islam, then forced into marriages with Muslims.

Violent attacks against Christians have become disturbingly frequent. They come from local vigilantes, also from terror groups, like the targeted suicide attack on Christians in Lahore, Easter 2016, killing 74 worshippers.

Pakistan’s notorious “Blasphemy laws” are repeatedly exploited to target Christians, often to settle personal grudges.

School texbooks portray Christians as inferior. Sometimes corrupt Pakistani police are involved in crimes against Christians.

In India, since 2014, under the new Hindu prime minister, persecution of Christians has intensified. Although India’s constitution upholds the rights of religious minorities, in practice it is meaningless.

The overthrow of Egypt’s Islamist president, Mohammad Marsi, in 2013 was followed by increased violence against Christians and the destruction of some 60 churches.

Egyptian Christians still face violent abuse and attacks, in addition to discrimination in employment.

In December, a suicide bomb at a church service in Cairo killed 27 Christians, mostly women. Egyptian President Addel Fattah condemned the massacre but did nothing. Meanwhile Christians still rightfully fear for their lives.

Islamic State calls Christians its “favourite prey.” After execution, they dump the remains outside a town on the roadside.

The symbolism should not be lost. In Islam the symbol of dumping a body on the roadside outside a town is very telling. It means the victims are seen by their murderers as unfit for burial, worthy only to be eaten by dogs. They view their victims as sub-human. (Think Holocaust).

In 1914 there were three million Christians in Turkey. Today, as a result of persecution, there are fewer than 150,000.

In Iran Christians are often arrested, especially active evangelists. In 1990 the Iranian Government forcibly closed the Bible Society. Imprisoned Christians may be tortured and held for long periods without charge.

Mark Webb asks (More Christian facts. Adver 8/4/17): “Have all Christians been asked to leave the countries, Mr Hunt?”

I believe the above answers your questions, Mr Webb.

Finally, what is there in the death and resurrection of Christ that make it so offensive?

JEFF ADAMS Bloomsbury Swindon

Show was first class

WE WENT to the Gilbert and Sullivan production of The Yeoman Of The Guard. An excellent show with great singing.

The leads were so talented, not just the singing but also the acting. All the effort put in by all certainly showed. It really was a first class show.

I just wish the audience could have been more responsive. Well we give you three cheers.

SHIRLEY AND MIKE PICKETT Ermin Street Stratton