PLEASE keep your letters to 250 words maximum giving your name, address and daytime telephone number - even on emails. Email: letters@swindonadvertiser.co.uk. Write: Swindon Advertiser, 100 Victoria Road, Swindon, SN1 3BE. Phone: 01793 501806.

Anonymity is granted only at the discretion of the editor, who also reserves the right to edit letters.

Parking dilemma

With regard to the parking situation at Coate Water may I make the following observations?

In these days of austerity I am surprised at the Council for throwing away so much money on lost parking changes over the last few weeks at Coate Water.

Two months ago these ticket machines were covered up and later removed altogether and were replaced with a notice stating that you had to phone the number below or pay the ranger in the house the sum of two pounds cash with no ticket or receipt given resulting in some members of the public paying and others not.

There has been no check on who has paid and who has not that I can see and this is totally unfair to those of us that have paid a yearly subscription.

Surely it is illegal to demand payment for parking without giving a receipt.

This practice is at best open to an accusation of abuse at the very least.

Can the Council tell us why they removed the machines and if they are being replaced, and if not do those of us that paid in good faith for the year get any money back?

One story is that the machines were vandalised, another that the company running them have given up that job. Whatever the truth we have a right to know as Coate belongs to us all and this money was used to help run the park, so we were told.

B Harris, Covingham

Answers please

Reading chairman Terry Russell’s column in the matchday programme at the recent Swindon v Poole speedway match, I fully agree with what everyone at the club is doing to encourage more of the public to come along and enjoy trouble free exciting entertainment.

Swindon is lucky to have strong, loyal, solid crowds and long may this continue.

At the same time Mr Russell, you and the club’s owners (Gaming International) have not covered yourselves in glory. At no time has there been, through matchday programme or through the Advertiser, any update regarding stadium redevelopment.

1. What has caused the delay?

2. When is there a planned start?

3. Is it pie in the sky and not going to happen?

Perhaps you can give us answers before the next meeting.

A Murray, Briar Fields, Swindon

Terrorist threat

May I kill two birds with one stone? Re ‘Lack of consideration’ (Adver, 1/9/18 Peter Smith) and Mark Webb ‘Show Compassion’ (Adver 5/9/18),

Peter Smith, true to form, ignores the question: Qatar and Saudi Arabia refuse to take in their refugee Muslim ‘brothers’. Then why should we take them in?

‘’Irrelevant thoughts’’ was his profound reply!

Plus two other questions regarding how refugees flee ‘with just the clothes on their backs’ and manage to reach the UK without money. And, why have they not sought help at the first safe European country they reached?

Try not to switch to your usual default mode - ie personal abuse, Mr Smith.

Mark Webb’s message is loud and clear: don’t dare criticise the Hallowed Harbour Project (annually in receipt of thousands of pounds of Council tax money but never mind Council tax payers, we’ll keep on paying won’t we?) and now he even tells me who and what to criticise, as long as it’s not his beloved Harbour Project. Isn’t this how dictators start off?

Since Mark Webb admits ‘I don’t care how refugees get to the UK or how many countries they pass through to get here,’ it seems Mr Webb is hell bent on filling up Swindon with more mosques.

Perhaps he will kindly answer the following question.

Any nation that brings in refugees opens itself to the possibility that terrorists have infiltrated the ranks of the displaced internationals: can Mr Webb personally assure Adver readers that none of the Koran-thumping refugees, present and future, pose such a deadly threat?

Jeff Adams, Bloomsbury, Swindon

School deserves praise

Reference your article about Harry Flynn (29/08/2018) and his achievements in his Key Stage 2 -Standard Assessment Tests (SATs). It is with great delight that Harry has clearly demonstrated his determination and strength in achieving the national expected level in all subjects. I can also reveal that Harry has a great sense of humour and actively participated in all activities at his primary school.

However, what I thought was missing from your article was recognition for his school, Red Oaks Primary School, where Harry attained these standards of education. Red Oaks is an inclusive school for children of varying abilities and notable the schools inclusion policy for deaf children within mainstream teaching. I wish to highlight the dedication that staff at Red Oaks extend to all our children across the school plus their support and encouragement to all children regardless of physical abilities.

Harry is a very worthy candidate for the Wiltshire Community Pride Award for his fortitude and determination to achieve.

Fred Child, Chair of Governors, Red Oaks Primary School

Brainwashing tactics

I’ve never been a double-glazing salesman, however it’s been proven if you repeatedly tell people your product is the best in the market, even though it isn’t, people by the droves will believe it is. It’s called psychology, or simply brainwashing.

I feel this is the tactic the Remain Camp is using. If recent opinion polls are anything to go by, it’s working in some parts.

I often receive e-mails from Remain asking my support for a second vote. The biggest offenders are Caroline Lucas and a man who probably needs to send me a few more e-mails because I’ve forgotten his name. Often they ask for a donation. I haven’t quite fathomed out what this donation is for, is it to cover the expense of them sending me more unwanted e-mails?

I don’t think we will, but if we do remain I rue the day Britain will have to adopt the Euro as its currency. We will be for sure more under Brussels’ cosh.

Wait for it... I know a salesperson is now going to tell me that we will then have a level playing field.

I conclude from this statement, the EU is for the benefit of the minority and not the majority.

William Abraham, Rodbourne, Swindon

A worthy read

Sheridan Parsons’ monumental book Wootton Bassett in the Great War was published in 2014 after more than a year’s research. It’s taken me four years to get round to reading it. Thank you Sheridan for providing more than a snapshot of the town and of the family lives and occupations of those who served, of those who died, of their parents and siblings, and of all other residents at that time.

As a migrant myself, I should not have been surprised that many of the 2000 locals migrated in and out of the area in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Most men and many women had work. Few had jobs with GWR or in the Works. By and large a self-sufficient community. Not so now.

John Davies, Byron Avenue, Royal Wootton Bassett