Letters: December 10, 2016

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Traffic problems

K KANE wrote recently of the traffic problems in Wroughton and the inability of local councillors to resolve the problems.

I wrote to the parish council on August 8 and this was brought up in their Environment and Road Safety Meeting on October 3.

My complaints are about the inappropriate parking at two sites, the first being the junction of Anthony Road and Lancaster Road.

I was told at the time of my submission that double yellow lines were planned to be applied which would resolve the problem – result, I thought.

Oh no, the answer from the Road Safety Committee was that the parking acted as a traffic calming measure.

Not very beneficial when face-to-face on a blind corner and someone has to reverse. Large vehicles just go up the verge.

The second site is on Devizes Road opposite St Joseph’s Catholic church. This is narrow road to begin with on a corner leading to a complex of more than 40 flats, a day centre and residential properties, a much-used road.

Again, the same answer from the committee. The traffic just after that response was so calm it was at a standstill as the road was totally blocked for 20 minutes until a vehicle could be moved.

I consider this to be a dangerous practice, staff, residents and visitors alike hate the situation as at times up to 13 vehicles can be parked, try reversing back round that lot on a narrow bend.

I contacted the fire brigade to explain the situation there, ambulances are also a regular sight also as well as minibuses bringing patients in.

I do not know what the emergency services would do if their vehicles cannot get access, surely prevention is better but our councillors don’t seem to agree.

Maskeleyne Road and Kellsboro Avenue managed to get double yellow lines and their roads are wider than both roads in question so how did that happen?

I won’t mention the traffic lights in the High Street, that is for another occasion.

JILL WARREN

Plummer Close, Wroughton

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Debt and funding

COUN Renard makes some very interesting points in his most recent column (SA, Dec 8) the first being a reference to the decision of the council to ‘slow down’ debt repayment.

He says that this will not reduce the debt and I am quite sure he is right.

Indeed, I suggest the effect of reducing the debt repayment schedule by extending the repayment period will be an increase in the amount of debt, or is it the case that Coun Renard has negotiated a deal whereby SBC simply reschedules at zero additional cost?

The second point of note is his comment regarding the Government not having a pot of money ‘to help us out’ – this is of course utter nonsense.

There really is no shortage of money in Whitehall’s coffers; just a reluctance to spend it where it is most needed.

Vanity and legacy projects can secure vast sums of public funding, social initiatives which might help win votes are never left short of money and, as many readers will be aware, the sums wasted on failed schemes runs into billions of pounds.

Coun Renard insults the intelligence of all Adver readers by suggesting otherwise.

The harsh reality is that Coun Renard and some of his more elite colleagues gave up on Swindon a long time ago, they consciously decided to leave the detritus of normal life to blight roads, streets and alley ways, declining to provide a proper and efficient cleaning programme.

Yes they provide selected areas with a visible ‘litter pick’ offering limited and variable success in terms of outcome; but take a walk down the walkway and cycle path by Iffley Road and view the filth that has accumulated over many years.

The council has studiously ignored this situation and I suggest it has done so quite deliberately whilst pleading an inability to finance a cleaning programme.

the same time they have written off £750,000 owed to them by SEQOL.

Coun Renard compliments Coun Holland and the finance team for managing to reduce the gap in the council’s budget to a mere £471,000.

At this point I wish to offer a solution which will close the gap and leave some change for tea and biscuits at the next Cabinet meeting.

Why doesn’t he invite Coun Perkins into his office and ask him when the £400,000 loaned to Digital City will be repaid?

Remember it was Coun Perkins who told Cabinet colleagues that this amount plus 20 per cent interest giving a total of £480,000 would be repaid “by the new investor” he also made a similar claim on the BBC.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive, Swindon

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Voices of the people

ON DECEMBER 7, I read three excellent factual and detailed letters on these pages. Accurate, well written and informative, from K Kane, Kate Linnegar and Clive Carter.

They were the voice of the people at its best. Every one of them made salient points about the system, the alleged abuse of it and the alleged perpetrators involved.

They were straight talking, and saying it as it is regarding the duties expected – nay demanded – of our public servants.

The Roman politician Marcus Porcius Cato, no doubt speaking from what he saw was going on around him, stated 2,000 years ago, “Those who steal from the private purse spend their lives in stocks and chains. Those who steal from the public purse go dressed in gold and purple”. Ring a bell in 2016, anyone?

The Latin term Persona Non Grata is the eventual fate of all politicians who ignore their electorate. Get Tae, is the more common phrase where I originally came from in Glasgow.

The final letter from the prospective MP for the Liberal Democratic Party North Wiltshire, Dr Brian Mathew, brought me back to the reality of the doublespeak of the career politician.

It included some stirring lines referring to the by-election won by Sarah Olney and speaks of the intolerance and isolationism and division from the UKIP and Tory right.

As I voted UKIP, Sir, I can assure you I am neither intolerant, nor an isolationist, or divisive by nature. It reminds me in nonsensical terms, of David Steel their ex-leader, who famously said in 2003, ‘Return to your constituencies and prepare for government’.

Or the young man who said to his father, “Dad have you been drinking out of my bottle of Self Delusion Special Brew again?”

“Of course not,” his dad replied. “But have you seen the size of that dragon in the kitchen?”

BILL WILLIAMS

Merlin Way, Covingham, Swindon

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Thanks for caring

CAN I thank everyone who sent me so many good wishes when I was in hospital a few weeks ago.

Can I wish everyone Merry Christmas as I won’t be sending cards this year, I’m using the money spent on cards to send to the scanner appeal which we really need.

Can I suggest if you have a few cards to spare to also send one to the scanner appeal but put a £5 note in, it will make a wonderful gift.

Once again, thank you for the good wishes and get well cards. Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year.

LILIAN SPENCER

Thames Avenue, Swindon