PLEASE keep your letters to 250 words maximum giving your name, address and daytime telephone number - even on emails. Email: letters@swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Write: Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE. Phone: 01793 501806.

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Driven to distraction

ROLL up, roll up for the fairground at Covingham Square. I love the area and its friendly atmosphere. However I must admit I am not renowned for my massive support regarding Swindon council on these pages. However truth and honesty always come to the fore. May I salute them on their dedication regarding the rubber bollards and concrete similarities, repair damage by cars at the aforementioned venue?

Why don’t they turn the central area into a dodgem park. It would attract families with their children and dogs. Remember dogs urinating against a rubber or concrete bollard is less expensive than a car knocking it down.

May I say with hand on my heart that the Swindon council and the Adver readers take this in the light-hearted manner intended? Not so the offending car drivers, if the bollards were not plastic or concrete, but human bodies. Think about it.

BILL WILLIAMS, Merlin Way, Covingham

Question of identity

WHEN I went to visit the recycling centre in Cheney Manor (May 11) I was stopped by an official and asked for proof that I lived in Swindon.

He said that anything with my address on would do.

Luckily I had a copy of my car insurance certificate on me and so he let me in. I was wondering what people that don’t live in Swindon are supposed to do with their rubbish.

People try to do the right thing by going to the recycling centre but I wonder what happens if you say you are not from Swindon.

STEVE HALDEN, Beaufort Green, Swindon

Flower power

FURTHER to your feature regarding the bluebells in the woods, your readers may be interested to know that a lot of them are there as a result of the collection, and subsequent planting, of seeds from our own native bluebell. These seeds take five years to develop sufficiently to bear flowers, so resemble grass leaves getting larger and wider until then. We are also collecting other seeds, such as wood anemone and red campion, and cultivating plantlets at The Haven.

Having helped plant bluebell seeds at the sports field entrance to Lydiard Park three years ago, my ‘patch’ is now the woods on Shaw Ridge, which we have recently been clearing of a large amount of cow parsley so that more interesting species can replace them. You may like to know that there are still snakes head fritillaries on the ridge from the days when it was a meadow grazed by cattle.

Should anyone be interested in joining us (many hands make light work!) they can find the information on the FAB SWINDON website.

GILLIAN GANLEY, Swindon

Stamp of disapproval

I RECEIVED today, 9th May, a letter posted, ‘second class’ in Swindon postmarked 8th March.

Comments, Royal Mail ?

RODNEY J M WIRDNAM, Whilestone Way, Swindon