We won’t let relief road be bypassed (From This Is Wiltshire)

We were surprised to learn through the Adver that the Conservative Administration is negotiating about the Purton-Iffley Relief Road (Thamesdown Drive to Barnfield Roundabout), which many people in Mannington and Western see as a bypass to keep traffic off Mead Way and to reduce congestion at Bruce Street bridges.

However would anyone seriously open negotiations with the statement, “Despite the importance of the road, it would not appear in the Core Strategy because this key strategic planning document had to be “deliverable”. The relief road was not currently possible because it lacked financial backing.”

By stating this, Swindon Conservatives are sending a clear message to its own government that they are in nothing more than a tea and sympathy mode and not serious about this urgently needed inner relief road.

The Core Strategy will cover a period of at least 10 years and for Conservative Councillors to admit they have no intention of doing anything because in their view it is undeliverable demonstrates poor leadership and a lack of commitment to this project. The road must be part of the Core Strategy and Swindon Council must use that fact in its negotiations with government to secure the funding needed for the project.

We would also remind your readers that in 2002/3 money was provided by the last Labour led council to start the design work on this project, which stopped once the Conservatives took control, and it was a Labour Group motion submitted to the last council meeting that forced the council to start the negotiation process.

We feel that the Conservative administration is more than aware of the pressure that will be brought to bear on them by developers and their comments were for developers’ consumption only, and no more than a warning to them to take their tanks off the council’s Core Strategy lawn. After all Swindon's Core Strategy has already hit the buffers once, because there were more than 1,400 objections.

Mannington and Western Labour Councillors made a pledge at the last election to campaign for the Purton-Iffley Relief Road and we intend to do so. We will continue to pursue the inclusion of this scheme in the Core Strategy and as a Strategic Council Objective.

Money was found to provide a Wichelstowe Bypass, so it can be found again for this relief road where the need is clearly overwhelming.

Cllrs Jim Robbins, Kevin Small and Steve Wakefield Mannington Western Councillors Swindon

NIMBYS needed

In my opinion if it wasn’t for NIMBYS, inept and authoritarian regimes like the one that currently rules Swindon would just ride roughshod over local communities all over the land without redress.

The reality in Swindon is that they are happy to pull the wool over peoples eyes and shove things down peoples throats whilst suggesting, as with the Croft, openness and transparency and robust and meaningful consultation.

When confronted and legitimately questioned, they are more than quick to take shelter behind their lawyers who speak gobbledygook and who have concocted laws by themselves to protect themselves from debate or criticism.

In this Brave New World it is be silent and don’t speak out, at your peril.

David Bent Marlborough Lane Old Town

Parish works

In your article of July 17 ‘Councillors call for parish split’, Borough Councillors Heenan and Hurley are quoted as calling for the creation of a new parish council for Nythe and Coleview.

As an elector of the Coleview area, I have been waiting in vain to hear precisely what this proposal entails. I do recall these councillors previously wanted a new parish for Lower Coleview, Nythe and Covingham to be formed. It appears that neither Covingham nor Stratton St. Margaret Parish Council sees any advantage in such an arrangement so these borough councillors are trying a new tack.

Understandably, Mike Spry and John Foley as Stratton parish councillors have vigorously expressed their support for the status quo. Both, together with their parish council colleagues, have served the local community well for many years. One has only to compare the recent record of the borough and parish councils.

As well as presiding over the fiascos concerning the Mechanics’ Institute, the Locarno and wi-fi, Swindon Borough Council have diverted money intended for local infrastructure in Stratton to fund their failing efforts at town centre regeneration.

For years SBC did noting with the land behind the Coleview Community Centre. In contrast, for the last few months since SPC took over responsibility, the grass has been cut regularly, trees planted, drainage work done by the parish council’s ground staff and plans for the children’s play area drawn up, consultation carried out with local residents, orders placed and work has commenced.

The decision for local people is clear. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it and support the views of the parish councils.

Brian Cockbill Stratton Road Stratton St Margaret Swindon

Take some pride

With reference Mr Lawrence’s letter of August 11, why can’t we say that the Germans, French and the rest of the world trail behind Great Britain? In London 2012 terms the simple fact is they do trail behind us. Look at the medal table!

As for mighty, well that’s another issue. How can it be a crime to support your own country? Perhaps if Mr Lawrence has nothing more serious to worry about than how other countries have performed in London 2012 he can consider himself a very lucky individual indeed. Why not be proud of our small country and its performance. What heart these performances give to a nation struggling under austerity measures caused by the greedy few for their own gain.

Mr Lawrence, perhaps you can have a change of mind and just burst with pride at our nation’s Olympic achievement instead of pandering to nations that don’t care what we think or want as I suspect most other people do.

I’m proud of our Olympic success and make no apologies to any nation or individual for this!

Karl Snelham Bankside Swindon

...Costly circus

SOME £9bn was spent on Lord Coe’s circus – a dream for two weeks. If only £1bn of this amount had been spent on real issues like grass roots sports, or the cancer drugs that are badly needed.

It’s been a real ‘national feelgood factor’, but in a few weeks time it will be forgotten and most people won’t even remember the names of the medal winners.

I, for one breathe a sigh of relief that it’s all over and we can get back to normal. How can this country suddenly come up with £9bn and billions more money for others, like overseas aid but can’t come up with millions (not billions) for its own people?

Something is seriously wrong with the human morals about this island of ours.

If in the near future there is a revolution in this land, I would not be surprised.

H G Smith Wroughton Swindon