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We have families too

DR Swinyard seems to ignore the fact that most of those who work weekends also have families. Why should GPs be any different? I believe weekend surgeries are long overdue. Surgeries are there for the benefit of the population not the other way around.

I appreciate there is a shortage of qualified doctors. This is the fault of all political parties but I am sure with creative rostering an individual doctor need only work one in three weekends, perhaps less. For example could not all of West Swindon surgeries cross cover at weekends? Not every surgery needs to open but could rotate. I know this would mean patients would not see there own named doctor but how many do now?

It would be a price worth paying for easier appointments and the patients choice if they wish to see that doctor or not. There may be some individual medical conditions where this would not be possible but I am sure for the majority there is no problem.

ANDREW KIRWAN

Parr Close, Grange park

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Why is he gagged?

SWINDON Councillor Kevin Parry, also an elected member to represent the public as a Great Western Hospital Governor, claims he is prevented by a “code of conduct” from expressing a personal opinion on the Local Health Plans.

This is extraordinary; how can he operate as a public representative? Does he know there is a crisis here in Swindon, but cannot, or will not be honest and acknowledge his Conservative Prime Minister is wrong?

BRIAN V COCKBILL

Stratton Road, Stratton St Margaret

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Give him a chance

AMERICA is currently experiencing division not seen since the American Civil War and all for one reason - Donald Trump.

We recently witnessed the ‘Hollywood Stars’ giving him all sorts of unsavoury comments, however who are these people to think they have an opinion that is any more valid to the ordinary American? These ‘Stars’ do not live in the real world - they certainly do not work as hard as the majority to put food on the table, clothes on their children’s backs and pay the rent.

At a time when the economy is in such poor shape, having an incredibly successful businessman is the perfect fit for someone who can make tough but necessary decisions and negotiate well to improve the economy. The president elect has made the pledge that Britain will be at the ‘front of the queue’ quashing any fears Obama created.

Too much has been made of comments he has made in the past, people seem to forget that its not a personality competition but who can do the best job and to the best of their ability. The bottom line is that he was not elected to be the pope. Trump’s threat to ‘drain the swamp’ will ensure that only those with their heart will be in government and the establishment, elitist and career politician’s days are numbered which is only a positive thing for democracy.

We are currently in what feels like another Cold War with Russia so to see the mutual respect that Putin and Trump have shown is highly encouraging for world peace, the West must stop poking the sleeping bear. There is nothing to be lost with the pragmatic talks that are due to take place.

I say to skeptical people: please give Donald a chance as I genuinely believe he will make America great again and the world a safer place for all of us. To those who voted to remain I say give Brexit a chance to succeed, the time for bitterness and division is over. Let us unite as proud Britons and get behind our country to make the UK a global success, after all we do live in the best country in the world!

On my way to Trump Tower last year I passed the Dakota Building where John Lennon was brutally murdered just a few months after my own birth. As I stood there in the warm September sun I recalled the beautiful lyrics from ‘Imagine’ and felt very emotional when I reflected on how little progress the human race has really made since then: Imagine all the people, Living life in peace, You may say I’m a dreamer, But I’m not the only one, I hope someday you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.

MARTIN COSTELLO

Swindon

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Where’s the proof?

MY good friend and fellow correspondent Steve Thompson states with conviction that “it is mainly kippers (his favoured name for UKIP members) and Brexiteers (by which he means the majority who voted to leave the EU political construct) who are the main climate change deniers” (SA 14 Jan) to which I would ask Steve by what authority does he make such a seemingly absurd pronouncement?

I would be very surprised if Steve could produce hard evidence to support such a claim which means it would really only be ‘his opinion’ and as such, whilst very interesting, the claim would have no veracity whatsoever.

Knowing Steve as well as I do, I know him to be fair minded and sceptical of unsupported claims; what he might call tabloid ‘facts’ - big headline but little detail.

As one of those who voted Leave and someone who doesn’t believe that climate change is solely due to human interference in the environment, I suppose I am ‘proof’ of his opinion; but I am glad to say that I know of others who voted to Remain and hold a sceptical position as to the reality of climate change and most importantly its causes.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive, Swindon

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Check your facts

RE These are the facts ( Adver 12/1/17 Des Morgan).

Mr Morgan reminds me of a prisoner in the dock who, when confronted with solid evidence against him, denies everything.

I have advised him what the available evidence is that the Queen does meddle in politics - having quoted it from three named books that Mr Morgan can easily check - but for reasons peculiar to him he decides not to.

I wonder why? All he has to do is check it. I see no point in continuing this silliness.

His only interest is in scoring points instead of sifting out the truth.

JEFF ADAMS

Bloomsbury, Swindon

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Blame yourselves

WOULD you Adam and Eve it? There is a pool of thought that the poor old UK electorate has been comprehensively lied to by the Brexit camp and the lying was so convincing that the truths expounded by the Remainers were blown to the winds.

We now have to suffer the consequences unless the wily band of truth-seeking lawyers and judges can somehow manage to turn the good ship Britannia round and head back to the safety of the calm EU waters.

But wait, I can also hear the siren calls of the nymph Lorelei, nowadays going by the name Junker, luring us on to the rocks in a further attempt to shipwreck our bid to escape.

In truth, on a scale of 1 to 10 the lying stakes were comprehensively won by the Remainers aka Remoaners, by 9:1 and travesty of travesties they somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

We are now suffering rising employment, increased exports and major international companies relocating to the UK. Even worse the fall in the value of the pound, driven by foreign money speculators, has a silver lining in that our exports become more competitive and FTSE 100 companies, who for a large part are paid in dollars, are doing wonders for UK pension funds. Then, if that is not bad enough that nice ineffectual Mr Obama whose words of encouragement regarding putting the UK to the back of the queue re a US:UK trade agreement have been Trump-ed. Now where is the fairness in that?

It must be enough for you to make you want to emigrate Mr Poole!

HENRY SMITH

Swindon

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We need more time

I’M writing in response to your 13th January article regarding the chaotic way the council have proceeded to set up new parish councils. After the Conservative administration forced new parish councils to be set up in November, you might have expected Swindon Council to be fully prepared for these new organisations, with full information available to them about the types of services, open spaces and community buildings they wished to transfer to the new parish councils.

Instead while sitting on the new parish councils to agree this transfer, councillors have been provided little information about the land, property and services being transferred to the new parish councils, councillors have had little or no time to review the borough council’s offer to provide services to the new parishes and have been given conflicting and confusing advice over the date by which the new parish councils had to set their precept.

The fact of the matter is that the new Shadow Parish Boards are not in a place to be able to make fully informed decisions about the transfer of council services, open spaces and community buildings, let alone set a substantial parish precept.

Swindon Borough Council take a whole year to set a budget and agree their council-tax rate, they are expecting new parishes to agree the transfer of services, open spaces and property, as well as set a precept, over the course of just one month. This is why at the next full council meeting the Labour Group will be calling for a one-year extension of the transfer of assets and services to new parish councils. We believe this will give more time for the newly elected parish councillors on the new parish councils, serviced by officers independent of Swindon Borough Council, to negotiate the transfer of services and assets to the borough.

More time to consider these issues will help the new parish councils make informed decisions and give them time to properly negotiate with Swindon Council, to ensure the people living in these parishes are getting value for money from the services they’re paying for.

COUNCILLOR JIM GRANT

Swindon Labour Group Leader