Good reason to be ratty (From This Is Wiltshire)

I am a rat from Penhill who had an appointment at 9.20am at the Merchiston Surgery, Highworth Road, but because of the ridiculous closure of Queensfield at that time I set off at 8.40am.

I reached the Moonrakers Crossroads and found I could not turn left into Beechcroft Rd because the traffic was backed up in the bus lane past the lights at the junction of Penhill and Cricklade Road.

Eventually a motorist did give way and I continued my journey only to find I had missed my appointment.

I would have thought a 20mph restriction would have been more sensible.

I wonder if the councillor living in Qeensfield, given the same circumstances, would have taken the same route?

ALAN COX Alton Close Penhill Swindon

Ulterior motives

I do not understand how a group of prominent Anglican and Catholic laymen can be so disingenuous in a letter as to say they do not argue from the background of any one faith or belief (Adver letters, June 22).

This group of men – note that they are all men, no women – were not just sitting around chewing the fat and one of them said: “I know, let’s write a letter to the Swindon Adver about gay marriage.”

These are men with a history of campaigning against abortion, contraception, gay adoption, civil partnerships and now equal civil marriages, and the letter was hawked about to a great many newspapers.

I do not say they should not hold such views or that they should not campaign in favour of these views, I merely think they should be up front about their reason being because of religion.

As to their legalistic objections they say: The Government has no mandate because this was not in their manifesto.

Would they hold the same objection if the Government said it would ban abortions? I think not.

They say that in the UK there exists only one law relating to marriage. In that case why do people under 18 elope to Scotland?

They say that we could have different arrangements for marriage in the various parts of the UK and this could affect tax and inheritance. Surely if it is morally repugnant to move your money out of the country for tax avoidance it is more so to marry for tax avoidance?

It is my belief that these men are being disingenuous and manipulative in their letter and should be disregarded.

STEVE THOMPSON Norman Road, Swindon

Code cracked

In response to Mr Darling’s letter, I have rechecked the Highway Code and, yes, it states that cars in the outside lane should only turn right.

However, that does not excuse the fact that the woman under-took me, she then went straight across the roundabout – as did most of the others using that stretch oin the outside lane.

Please refer to the Highway Code rules 162/163 – and be aware that I was at the road junction waiting for traffic on my right to enter the roundabout – as follows: l Before overtaking you should make sure there is a suitable gap in front of the road user you plan to overtake; l Only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so.

Also I was on the outside of vehicles who were indicating left, so – technically – it could be argued that I was using the outside lane to overtake other vehicles, hence keeping the flow of traffic moving during rush hour.

Once on the other side of the roundabout I reverted to the inside lane of the dual carriageway – as the Highway Code states I should.

LINDA TURNER Swindon Road, Swindon

Thanks to Donna

This my eighth year of entering the Race For Life. Unfortunately this was the first year where I was unable to actually run!

This was due to a serious accident in February this year where I broke my ankle/leg and I have been unable to walk, let alone run, since.

As a result I had to take part this year from a wheelchair.

But even this would not have been possible without the help of my good friend Donna Royal.

Without her I would not have made it round at all.

Unfortunately, due to an administrative error her name did not appear in your paper in the list of runners.

Hopefully, by writing this I will be able to express my heartfelt thanks to her and also give her the credit she richly deserves.

All being well hopefully next year we’ll both be back running!

So thanks again to my wonderful friend Donna, I couldn't have done it without you.

Sara Greaves Raybrook Crescent Rodbourne, Swindon