Letters: August 20, 2016

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Best part of park gone

Coun David Renard’s column made an interesting read in respect of Public Space Protection Order at Lydiard Park.

He refers to “extensive consultation”. Maybe he could enlighten me as to how and when this took place.

I attended one of the two consultations at Lydiard Park. There was one other resident present.

I was not opposed to it if some changes could be made but the other resident was 100 per cent against.

I have been reliably informed there was similar attendance at the other, probably due to insufficient advertising.

I must, therefore, draw the conclusion the meeting held at the Civic Offices was packed.

Coun Renard says the restriction refers to about a quarter of the park.

Yes, the best part. No thought seems to have been given to older people, those with walking difficulties, etc. who wish to exercise their dogs probably by throwing a ball, who will now have to walk quite some distance from the car park to let their dog off its lead.

The other participant at the meeting I attended will not be able to exercise her dog in the park from April to September.

There have apparently been a number of complaints about aggressive and dangerous dogs.

Why aren’t they dealt with instead of making a blanket ruling?

There have also been complaints about runners and cyclists. Both of my grandchildren have been knocked over, on separate occasions, by runners while strolling through the wooded area and my dog was knocked down by a man running with a pushchair.

On each occasion the runners didn’t even stop to check the injuries they had caused.

Some cyclists ride way too fast and ride on the grass, narrow footpaths etc. and have no intention of slowing down.

I believe the runners and cyclists who behave in this arrogant and dangerous way are in the minority.

But I also believe that is also the case for badly behaved dogs. Will the next move be to ban running and cycling from a quarter of the park?

Coun Renard says the aim is to make these spaces safe and accessible to residents.

I believe the aim is to drive people out and then he and his colleagues can say the spaces aren’t used and can be sold off.

P PIXTON

Lambert Close, Freshbrook, Swindon

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Football fairy frustration

AT LONG last someone agrees with my views about the overpaid, underperforming “fairies” who purport to be sportsmen.

When I was a teenager in the 1950s I used to follow my then home town team whenever they played locally as they were all semi-professional, with proper jobs, and, more importantly, were local to the town.

I knew most of them by name and some of them lived in my neighbourhood, so I felt a respect for them and was proud of what they were doing, especially when they got to the finals of the Berks and Bucks Championship.

When I watch my favourite sports of cricket and diving I have the pleasure of watching true sportsmen who go all out to achieve the best result from their match or contest.

I think it is about time that the FA got their act together and seriously thought about the present state of the so-called “Beautiful Game” which is being killed off by these overpaid and underperforming “fairies”.

I do not object to them earning a reasonable wage as their career is usually not very long and injury can cut it even shorter.

However, I seriously think that this wage should reflect properly the level at which they are playing and, more controversially, should be capped at the level at which they are playing.

They should then be encouraged to seek sponsorship if they want to augment their income which would truly encourage them to perform to the best of their ability, as a poor performance could jeopardise that sponsorship.

Another thought is that perhaps the points system should be revised to the pools system where a score draw gets two points, which would both liven up boring scoreless games by encouraging the players to score.

It would make the league tables a lot more interesting.

I also agree with the view that the spectators also should think very carefully about their support of these players instead of forking out these exorbitant prices they are paying to watch them.

So, the bottom line is, if you want to be acknowledged as a sportsman, put real effort in to achieving your objective.

GERRY TAYLOR

Newcastle Street, Swindon

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Celebrating Olympians

THE success of Team GB at the Rio Olympics is quite breathtaking.

The original target of 48 medals was easily passed long before the end of the games, making 2016 a record-breaking year.

The medal winners should be rewarded with an open-top bus tour through our major cities so we can give them the praise and glory they deserve.

The pride of the people in their country needs to be recognised and passed on to all our athletes.

If any evidence was needed then here it is that we can get on perfectly well without being a member of the European Union.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road, Swindon

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Great service with Saga

RE: LETTER from E J Stokes (Friday); how I agree. This is becoming the norm with virtually every company.

Could it be that they enjoy a monetary share of our “hanging-on” calls? Surely not.

One of the worst is Virgin Media – just try getting through to them if you have a fault with your TV etc.

I did send a personal mail to Richard Branson but he didn’t reply, strangely enough.

However, one notable exception is Saga – calls are almost always answered promptly and with polite efficiency.

RODNEY JM WIRDNAM

Whilestone Way, Swindo