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What a cheap trick

On Sunday afternoon I took my elderly mum to the town gardens to see the second half of Swindon Brass Band’s performance in the bandstand. Although I live very close to the park, my 90-year-old mum is partially sighted and very wobbly on her feet, so we drove.

Needless to say, the event was popular and already in full swing, so all the roads were full of parked cars. I eventually found a space on the park side of Quarry Road, up on the grass verge, where 20 or so other cars had already parked up. I debated parking there but there were no traffic cones to indicate that this was not an acceptable place to park, given the popularity of the event and with all other ‘legitimate’ parking spaces taken. I believe traffic cones are used for the Gay Pride event and Old Town Festival.

Though this side of Quarry Road carries double yellow lines, none of the cars on the bank abutted the road and there was no evident prohibitive signage.

Clearly others had made the same thoughtful decision.

So imagine my shock, returning to the car 45 minutes later, to find a parking ticket. What a shameful cheap trick!

For a busy summer event, where is one meant to park, in order to support a local performance?

Not only that, the ticketed car in front of mine belonged to a band member. I bet he was cross, having played his heart out for free in sweltering heat for a good 90 minutes... to then be fined £70 for his efforts.

Please let’s have some sense and fairness on this issue.

To cap it all, on a personal level, my mother felt so guilty at making me use the car for her benefit, when I would otherwise have walked, that she said she won’t go again.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

A little bit awkward

ARE you 16 or 17 or do you have memories of life at this often challenging age? If so, you may be interested in entering a creative writing competition being run by The Children’s Society as part of our charity’s Seriously Awkward campaign.

The campaign aims to improve life for vulnerable 16 and 17-year-olds by securing more sustained help for them as they move into adulthood with issues like mental health, housing and access to employment.

For the competition - run in partnership with Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House - we are looking for fictional stories by unpublished writers of up to 2,000 words about this awkward age, with categories for both young people aged 16-25 and adults aged 26 and over.

Whether you are an aspiring writer or have never before written, why not think about what life can be like for 16 and 17-year-olds and craft your own story?

Writing experts including international best-selling author Emma Healey, who has just published her second novel, Whistle in the Dark, will judge the competition, and the winners will be offered expert advice and feedback by top literary agencies Darley Anderson and David Higham Associates.

So if you’re feeling inspired, please visit www.childrenssociety.org.uk/writing to find out more and enter by August 31, 2018. Good luck!

Matthew Reed, Chief Executive, The Children’s Society

How did you know?

Mr Adams, you humbly suggest that I read Psalm 28. If I had a Bible and the time, I might take up your offer.

Yes, I am a drama queen or a queen of drama. In my past I have been in a number of theatre plays. I am qualified to teach drama and I have certificates to prove it.

Also you mentioned that I had been ‘hooked’ and indeed I was. When I met my husband he took me fishing and I fished with him for 45 years. I loved it and taught my three boys how to fish. We always put them back unharmed.

My husband and I do not go fishing now, as age has had its way and put a stop to this. You must be a spiritualist medium to know so much about me. We could get together as it seems we have the same gift. .

Janet Woodham, Scotby Avenue, Swindon

Where was the profit?

Does it surprise anyone that the much vaunted big screen at Wharf Green is no longer usable, having been decommissioned in 2017? (SA 10Jul)

Yet in November 2014 we were told by Swindon’s business guru Coun Garry Perkins that, having accepted it lacks the necessary expertise, the council would sign a contract with ‘b-focused’, a sports marketing and project management agency, to manage the big screen in an attempt to generate income for the town.

Coun Perkins, who is known for his tendency to engage in wishful thinking (who can forget his wi-fi exploits?), hoped that b-focused would be able to use both the screen and the surrounding area to put on events, working with other commercial enterprises.

According to the report submitted to councillors the council would retain 70 per cent of any income generated, while b-focused would keep the rest.

Coun Perkins claimed the screen would cost £100,000 to decommission and, that “rather than just walking away from it, we want to make this an asset for the town.”

He added: “Without the screen behind it, events in the square at Wharf Green simply wouldn’t work. It is needed there for added value.”

Not to put too fine a point on it, as we consider this year’s World Cup tournament we should also remember that the 2010 and 2014 World Cup matches were also not shown as it was considered too difficult to maintain audience control in Wharf Green. This despite justification for erecting the big screen that viewers could “get a grandstand view for BBC sport and national events with the atmosphere of a live crowd in a public arena that holds 2,000 people.”

Coun Renard now says there is no funding to cover the cost of repair or replacement, which begs the questions, where is b-focussed and what profit share did SBC ever gain from the contract?

Des Morgan, Caraway Drive, Swindon

Our condolences

AS a fellow letter writer to the Swindon Advertiser, may I offer my personal condolences to Bill Williams and family after the sad loss of a wife and mother?

Whoever has cause to disagree with some of your opinions from past letters submitted by Bill, there comes a time when it matters not, as anyone who has faced the trials and tribulations that you and your family have faced over time will understand. We fellow letter writers offer you our sympathy and understanding.

Suffice to say that we wish you well. Although opinions differ over many topics, there are others out there who do feel a sense of sadness for you, even though we do not know you personally.

Chris Gleed, Proud Close, Purton

YouTube blocked?

The European Union is trying to bring in tougher new copyright laws that could put YouTube out of business.

Copyright infringements mean that the singers are not getting sufficient money under the existing system, say the EU.

The young generation have grown up with YouTube and they would find it a shock it it was suddenly blocked by the EU.

Britain voted to leave the EU on June 23 2016 but at the moment we are still following all the laws put out by the EU, so if it was blocked Britain would have to follow that ruling.

Steve Halden, Beaufort Green, Swindon