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We need a library

I WRITE with great disappointment in my councillors and with their decisions.

When it was local election time I asked our local councillors directly regarding the fate of Highworth Library and was assured that “Highworth Library was protected.” “It was fine.” “Nothing would happen to it.”

Obviously our councillors were either deliberately misinformed, totally unaware of the situation, which says little about their ability to serve, or being totally misleading.

The people of Highworth waited many years and worked hard to get a decent, proper library space in Highworth, not a decent space in Swindon.

The library’s opening was celebrated with many fine promises. It has since become a much loved and much used place by the people of Highworth and surrounds - both young and old.

It serves many needs as is demonstrated by the number and variety of groups who use it regularly through the month - 29 activities in all carried on throughout the day and evening.

Our library serves many functions in the community. It is much more than a place where you ‘borrow and return books’ as you would witness if you cared to spend a day there.

There are the ‘casual’ groups who make it their meeting place; the children who use it as a safe, interesting learning place to wait until their parents finish work; a place where the elderly who live alone come in to make contact with the outside world and read a paper that they probably could not afford to buy.

We all know Swindon’s schools are struggling to meet national standards and to close/limit library hours (to such a draconian degree of 15 hours) would be seriously detrimental to our children’s education, especially those informal learning possibilities. As a teacher I know that not all learning takes place in a classroom.

A great number of our students use the library on a regular basis to complete their assignments, especially those who have no computing facilities at home. Teachers use it as a resource for their teaching and personal/professional development.

Many young children develop their learning and reading skills from story-telling; book/video borrowing; or just visiting and spending time in the library looking through and enjoying the books, especially if their families are of limited means and have nothing to spare for buying books.

I know there is the argument that the cuts are severe and the demands, particularly in social welfare, on the council’s budgets are horrendously high. I also know that the libraries are an easy option to save money.

Satellite libraries across the town may be one answer but, if so, they need to be full-time, fully staffed and properly resourced libraries that serve the needs and wants of residents and taxpayers. Trusts may be a better option, which needs to be discussed.

Swindon already suffers from a dreadful reputation regarding its lack of culture and respect for its heritage. Such a reputation acts as a barrier to people not only coming to live and work in the town, but even to visit it.

What SBC is proposing would only enhance that reputation and make us even more of a cultural black spot. Not only will we be lacking in culture, we will be lacking in education too.

As a Highworth resident I feel we have not only been misled by those we elected to represent our views, but also that we have not been listened to in respect of what we want or what could be made happen.

We believe we need and deserve a full-time, fully-run library service in Highworth and we seek your commitment to delivering this.

DR ROSA MATHESON

The Willows, Highworth

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High costs of drones

TO ALL people thinking about purchasing a drone, it is illegal to fly over anther person’s property unless you have given the said person 14 days notice.

From April 2017 the CAA is bringing in rules and charges ranging from £57 to £10,000 to operate a drone.

Also, any person flying a drone should always make sure they have a public liability insurance to cover them for at least £10m as personal injuries claims can be very expensive.

DOUGLAS STEWART

Common Platt, Swindon

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Pun and laughter

WELL, Christmas is just around the corner and I am already in deep trouble. I asked my wife what she would like and she said, “I would like something in silk.”

I bought her a tin of Emulsion in her favourite colour and she is still far from satisfied.

It seems that a man can’t win. She keeps on to me about doing jobs around the house and I said, “I will do them but, I just don’t need reminding every six months.”

Happy Christmas everyone.

CHRIS GLEED

Proud Close

Purton

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Don’t wait for Brexit

IN REPLY to Patrick O’Shea (December 14) membership of the EU is damaging our economy every day and we cannot afford to wait.

Britain voted for freedom to trade on our own terms. Any debate that takes place should be between ourselves and not with the EU.

It is up to us to decide what sort of town we want and what sort of country we want.

Britain now has the freedom of choice in relation to what workers we need from around the world to help in our economy.

EU membership is like suffering from a bad tooth ache while waiting for an appointment with the dentist. We cannot wait another two years for Brexit. The pain is just too great.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon

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Going bananas?

WITH regards to Patrick O’Shea’s letter on the EU vote, since when do we import bananas from Europe? They are not grown there.

JOHN COOK

Highworth