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Figures don’t add up

I CANNOT believe my eyes. I keep trying but sadly my eyes are deceived yet again!

We spend £70m on vulnerable adult - Literally HALF our council tax bill.

The council spend only £4.9m on highways and buildings. No wonder we’re driving on such disgraceful roads.

Now, like any other person, I want to know exactly where our money goes. I’m not disputing or complaining that there are vulnerable people in our community but these figures are ridiculous. Are you telling me that half our money is spent on something that will never, ever improve or make safe our dual carriageways, roads and streets?

Our schools struggle desperately whilst half our yearly budget goes to vulnerable adults? Is there any single way of checking these figures or are we meant to take the council’s word for it? I want proof.

Roger Lack, North Swindon

Thanks to Marjorie

AT The Orders of St John Care Trust we are very lucky to have an incredible team who enhance our residents’ lives, including many amazing volunteers. I’m writing to celebrate one very special volunteer called Marjorie who, at 95 years old, remains as dedicated as ever to supporting residents at Athelstan House care home in Malmesbury.

Every Sunday for the past eight years Marjorie has helped with the church service, setting up the books, stools and cushions for the service to make the residents comfortable, and encouraging them to join in with the hymns. She goes with residents in the lift as support if they are nervous, and is a vital, cheery part of life at the home.

We are sending a very big thank you to Marjorie for her inspiring service.

Kit Lendon, Head of Volunteering at The Orders of St John Care Trust

One of the good ones

T Lambourne was kind enough to answer my letter suggesting Des Morgan should apologise to Molly Scott Cato, our MEP, for implying she would be “galled” if the UK did well in the event of Brexit. Ms/Mr Lambourne says Des shouldn’t apologise as Molly is pro-Europe. Doesn’t he/she read letters he/she replies to?

Ms/Mr Lambourne is, of course, correct that many of our MEPs would lose their gravy train if we were to leave, but this doesn’t apply to Molly, as her office allowances are all spent on her office, her expenses are modest and correct, and her salary good but not anywhere near bankers’ salaries.

Molly publishes her tax return and expenses (mollymep.org.uk), and has a 98% attendance record at the EU parliament. This can in no way be seen as being on the gravy train.

Meanwhile, local UKIP man Martin Costello says Prof Scott Cato cannot be a patriot and be committed to the EU as it is not possible to serve two masters. This is typical UKIP twaddle. As a democratically-elected MEP Molly is a master of the EU, as part of the directly elected parliament, and not the other way around.

Steve Thompson, Norman Road, Swindon