Letters: September 3, 2016

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Continual flooding

THE letter from fellow Wroughtonian K Kane prompted me to write about the continual flooding in Wroughton High Street after torrential rain.

I have lived in the village for more than 50 years and been a parish councillor for 24 of those years.

Swindon Borough Council has done nothing about this problem that occurs when there is a cloudburst that drains from the High Street into the stream.

The stream soon fills to a level higher than the drain and has nowhere to go but to flood into the High Street.

The point I would like to make is that, if there are to be more parish councils, then give established parish councils more power to deal with problems that happen in their parish like this flooding.

Make established councils “Quality Councils” that can make decisions about their parish.

I don’t think new parish councils can be expected to be a Quality Council until they have deserved the right to do so by passing simple exams perhaps to gain the name Quality Council.

Parish councils for example have planning committees that deliberate over planning issues that are on their doorstep, and are well aware of planning issues that are acceptable or not. These are then referred to the borough council, which can then overrule any decision. Is that fair?

I wouldn’t be surprised if the zebra crossing K Kane refers to was a Borough Highway decision.

In my opinion the crossing was a complete waste of money, as to cross the road before at this point was to go half way to a refuge then to cross the other half quite safely.

Another example of interference from on high was the time spent compiling a Neighbourhood Plan by people who know their area and suggested areas suitable to build on (brownfield), then someone on high gives the go-ahead to build on greenfield land that nobody wanted.

BRIAN PHILLIPS

Wroughton

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Importance of reading

AS WE approach the 50th celebration of International Literacy Day on Thursday, September 8, we are reminded of the importance of reading when it comes to ensuring children have the skills to reach their full potential.

Yet last year alone more than 63,000 children left primary school unable to read to the expected level.

Low literacy skills can have a devastating impact on the lives of individuals and our communities, and are estimated to cost the UK economy £81bn every year.

At Beanstalk, we believe that life is better when everyone can read well and express themselves with confidence.

That’s why we recruit and train volunteer reading helpers to go into a local primary school and provide one-to-one support to a child struggling with their reading.

Our volunteers change lives – without them, thousands of children would still be struggling to read, and facing all the problems associated with low literacy levels.

But we need more reading helpers if we’re to be able to offer this support to all those who need it.

So, as the new school year gets under way, we’re now recruiting another new class of special Beanstalk reading helpers.

Visit www.beanstalkcharity.org.uk or call 02077 294087 to find out more about our work, sign up as a reading helper if we work in your area or find out about the other ways in which you can support us.

GINNY LUNN

Chief executive

Beanstalk

Middle Street

London

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Heroes and heroines

QUITE the most brilliant Olympics I’ve ever seen at Rio 2016.

Then again, for some strange reason, I’ve been saying that every four years since 1928. After reflection I realise each Olympiad could be my last. Existential crisis? I get over the big “I am” and revert to my natural state.

But are Olympians the best role models?

Some argue they are the most selfish, driven people on the planet.

MP’s like Messrs Buckland and Tomlinson also need to take a good look at themselves. I think it was Socrates who said that those who most want power are those least fit to exercise it. I couldn’t agree more.

But I digress.

Thanks to the Great British gambling fraternity we have names to rival triple triple winner Usain Bolt and Michael GOAT – Greatest Olympian of All Time – Phelps.

Mo Farah (four golds, athletics), Laura Trott (four golds, cycling), Sir Bradley Wiggins (a record eight medals for Great Britain, cycling), Jason Kenny (six golds, cycling), Max Whitlock (double gold, gymnastics), and Justin Rose (gold, golf). All made glorious history.

Special congratulations to Jade Jones, (two golds) from Wales, who retained her Tae Kwon Do title and our beloved Jazz Carlin, of Swindon and Wales, (two silver, swimming).

They are all part of a glorious roll of honour and are heroes and heroines creating a special legacy.

Surely it’s time to bring great sports like darts, snooker, pool and billiards into the Olympic arena. Equal opportunities.

A REEVE

Okus Road

Old Town

Swindon

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Nothing to negotiate

IT SEEMS that the Conservatives are trying to negotiate a Brexit that involves Britain continuing to stay in the EU Single Market.

This would mean that Britain would be outside the EU but would be still subject to all the rules and regulations of full EU membership.

This is not acceptable. Britain voted to leave the EU.

Leaving the EU must include leaving the Single Market.

There is nothing to negotiate. We do not want a watered down Brexit. Britain voted for out and that is what we must get.

We don’t want years of negotiations that give us the end result of being out of the European Union but still have our industry smothered by the mountain of red tape that will continue to emanate from Brussels as long as Britain stays part of the EU Single Market.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon