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Museum not wanted

HAVING read Thursday’s article in the Adver about the meeting at New College to discuss the proposal for a museum and art gallery in Swindon the backers have definitely failed to recapture the enthusiasm of the public, in fact they never had it in the first place.

Robert Hiscox described Swindon as “quite architecturally challenged” – does he mean ugly? It is definitely not.

Mike Pringle had some good points, but surely even he would agree it seems a shame, that when we have three buildings that could be used, i.e. the Carriage Works, the Mechanics’ Institute, or the Locarno, to waste money on a new-build instead.

Or does he suggest we just demolish the old buildings and build this new monstrosity?

Also, he spoke about the other history of the town and it going beyond the Railway Works, which it does.

But you also have to remember that the Railway Works was used during the Second World War to make munitions.

It definitely did its bit towards the war effort, just like Vickers did by making Spitfires.

Finally, James Phipps (whoever he is) of Excalibur sounds like he is threatening the people of Swindon.

Does he mean that if the people of Swindon don’t support the new museum, he would move his company away from the town? And does he also think that Kimmerfields would stop the town centre regeneration if the new museum was not built?

MIKE ROSE

Broughton Grange

Lawn

Swindon

Kimmerfield facts

I FULLY support the proposals for an art gallery and museum in Swindon.

I won’t bother wasting my time or energy detailing why I support the proposals - there’s little I could say which would have any influence over the views of the doubters.

But what I’d say to those hoping that the proposed Kimmerfields development will transform the town centre and that the museum is therefore not needed is - “don’t kid yourselves and stop being so naïve.”

Kimmerfields has been in the pipeline for more than 10 years and has attracted precisely zero private investment to date.

Quite simply, it will not happen, without a significant office relocation into the town centre, be it a move from a company already based in Swindon, or a business moving into the town.

Without that Kimmerfields is dead in the water. It’s as simple as that. So, without something changing perceptions of the town centre so businesses want to invest in the town, and that could be either the museum proposal or the (never going to happen) North Star Ski slope, it’s unlikely that businesses will relocate into the town and it’s unlikely that the Kimmerfields development will materialise.

As we’ve had a petition opposing these plans, why doesn’t someone start a petition in support? I’d do it myself, if I had any idea where to start.

BEN FORSEY

Osterley Road

Swindon

A legacy of debt

I WOULD really like to know how the bid team for the new museum and art gallery project has come to the conclusion that the people of Swindon are all united behind the vision for the new bid to the HLF for the funds to build this vanity house.

Over the past weeks I have spoken to 100 people from all over Swindon and only four said it was a great idea.

Most of those I spoke to were working class or middle class - no shame there. As far as I’m concerned the team involved do not have the united front behind their bid.

Regarding Peter Elliott’s letter of April 19, it’s not a question of talking down brave new ideas and how wonderful and how pretty the new building will look, it’s about spending money SBC does not have.

The £5m the council are saying it will put towards the £22m cost of the project is at today’s prices and will rise to £30m if it goes ahead.

The £5m will more than likely be in the form of a loan from some merchant banker or London bank and the people of Swindon, the same working to middle class people whose vote of approval SMAG does not have, will be saddled with the debt and the interest on that debt for years to come.

So, yes, Peter if this vanity for the elite few does go ahead we all will have a legacy to pass over to our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, it will be the never ending debt and the never ending money being poured into it to keep it afloat. How’s that for creating something new?

One last point Brunel decided on Swindon to build the works was based mainly on the location between London and Bristol the open space needed for the size of the works and the space to build the village if he did not stop at Swindon for a GWR sarnie and mug of tea he may well have missed us out completley and went on further down the line to build the works some where else.

JOHN L CROOK

Haydon Wick

Swindon

Israel is guilt-free

I PEN this response to the very inflammatory letter written by Axmed Bahjad on Israel.

May I tell him straight that Israel has not and never has murdered innocent people - never! And if there have been Israeli Jews who have killed Arabs, they are condemned by everyone, and the police work harder to catch them than Arab terrorists.

I totally refute his claim that Israel has killed thousands of Palestinians during Operation Cast Lead and Protective Edge in 2008 and 2014.

Both operations conducted by the Israeli Defence Force were in response to unceasing missile, rocket and mortar attacks by Hamas, which Israelis endured for years before they said “enough.”

No other country would tolerate what Israel has had to endure and the IDF has been praised for its moral response in these conflicts as they forewarned Gazans of where and when they were going to attack, so giving ample opportunity for civilians to flee.

What other nation’s army would do this? Incidentally Axmed, why did you not mention the fact that Hamas used its own civilian population as human shields during these conflicts?

Axmed also questions the validity of the Jewish state,and claims that it is a European and North American implant.

I could cite many reasons for the legitimacy of Israel, ranging from uninterrupted Jewish settlement from the days of Joshua, political sovereignty over the land granted by the International Community, which included The Balfour declaration, the League of Nations mandate and Israel’s admission into the UN in 1949 and the fact that this is the land promised to them by God to the Patriarch Abraham.

I cannot escape the conclusion that the type of letter that Axmed Bahjad has written is typical of those that hate Israel and wish too see it destroyed, so they denigrate with misinformation and falsehoods.

This is how the Nazis came to power, which resulted in the murder of six million Jews and many others.

Jewish people have learned bitterly from the past that this irrational hatred of them, that ultimately led to the holocaust, must never happen again.

And so, with the support of the international community, this ancient people have legitimately returned to their ancestral homeland.

They just desire to live in peace and security without the threat of annihilation from those that would gladly see another holocaust.

Has the world not learned this lesson from history?

Well to their great cost the Jewish people have and Israel will never allow another holocaust again.

STEVE JACK

Parsonage Court

Highworth

Take pride in town

ALTHOUGH I have never lived in Swindon (but my wife has) I have been a Swindon Town supporter since 1965 and am currently a season ticket holder. (As a boy I lived near Witney.) We drive to virtually every home game from our home in Reading.

There is one thing that bugs me every single time I walk to the ground after parking in Walcot. There is so much litter everywhere - in Walcot and along Queen’s Drive. It’s horrible. But there is not a single waste bin between Lennox Drive and the County Ground.

In the area where I live in Reading, within a radius of 500 yards from my house, there are at least 10 litter bins, on street corners, next to bus stops and outside shops.

Isn’t it time Swindon learned to take a bit more pride in itself?

A nice new shopping area on Frobisher Drive surrounded by smart new houses, relatively new impressive secondary schools and the brand new Holy Cross Primary School which look great. And all spoiled by litter.

Best wishes to all Swindonians.

CHRIS JUPP

Reading

Stop cruel tests

APRIL 24 is World Day for Laboratory Animals and many are still suffering to make people beautiful, and that is debatable.

These animals are force fed poisons, held in cages with just eyes showing so hair shampoo and the rest is dropped in their eyes.

The EU and 10 other countries have banned these cruel tests. Cruelty Free International is launching its biggest campaign to try and get the 157 countries who sill test on animals to stop.

I can buy all my cosmetics, toiletries and household cleaners etc. in a well-known store with the “Bunny Logo” on. Do you?

MRS GILES

Bodiam Drive

Toothill

Swindon

Memorial question

TWO of my (grown-up) children, walking near Tadpole Bridge, were intrigued to see what appeared to be some sort of memorial by the river. It looked like a soldier, but why on the river bank?

Any ideas, please?

BRIAN FOSTER

Station Road

Shrivenham