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Please think again

We are class 9D at Lawn Manor Academy and we are writing in response to the plastic waste consultation announced by Swindon Borough Council.

Lawn Manor Academy has recently started a plastic recycling initiative because we have seen the damage caused in the environment by waste plastics and we would like it to stop.

We are asking you not to go ahead with your suggestion to burn plastics for these reasons.

Burning plastics can produce more pollution than landfill (source Royal Society of Chemistry) unless it is burned in special incinerators few of which exist in Europe.

Should chlorinated plastics get into the burned waste, dangerous chemicals like dioxins can be released (source Women in Europe EU group). These chemicals have effects at low concentrations which range from organ damage to cancer. Dioxins are a recognised Class 1 carcinogen.

We do not understand the comments made concerning a lack of clarity over where this waste goes. The person concerned at the recycling company has clearly stated that the path of waste disposal is traceable (source: SA 10/10/18).

So we do not agree with the point put forward by the council and do not agree that it justifies their approach.

We ask them to think again.

Class 9D, Lawn Manor Academy

We need answers

When Michael Gove took on the environment job he pledged to introduce a statutory plastic bottle deposit scheme to mirror the hugely successful carrier bag initiative. This was be a national scheme where supermarkets and other retailers charged a deposit on plastic bottles, which was then refunded on return, most likely by a machine, as happens now in other European countries.

In a bizarre juxtaposition, the borough council is consulting at the moment on a plan to burn the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in bottles which happens to be a particularly easy single use plastic to shred, pelletise and reuse.

Fast forward to last week’s Adver when it seems Tesco managers were strangely declaring on these pages that they would have no involvement with any deposit scheme because their car park recycling bins were previously abused by the leaving of other household waste.

It should have been no surprise as the council removed all of their on street recycling facilities and coincidently reduced the hours of operation of the household recycling centre, that lazy residents saw an opportunity to dispose of unwanted materials in this way.

Having these bottle recyclers in store is light years away from having huge recycling skips in isolated positions in car parks.

Do Tesco managers really believe that lazy customers will try to force redundant washing machines into the plastic bottle chutes? And store security, whilst not the military, would surely be able to apprehend the odd used car tyre or defunct dishwasher entering store to be left next to the bottle recycler.

The council wants to burn PET because it’s too expensive to sort - but hold on a minute, that’s the whole point of this new scheme, persuading householders to do the sorting and deliver back all the PET for a refund without our beloved binmen getting a look in.

Apart from the cost of plastic bottles of branded water and all the ‘hydration’ nonsense being the biggest marketing con western civilisation has ever been subjected to, at least Gove was talking common sense - but he’s gone very quiet lately.

Can we please get on with it Mr Gove?

John Stooke, Haydon End, Swindon

Not just our problem

On BBC Breakfast there was a discussion on what WE need to do to combat Global Warming. One lady has even turned vegan, as if that would make a difference. Then they spoke of the real need for more electric vehicles, which I understand are cleaner initially but not so in the long term. In my opinion, they were not as knowledgeable as they thought they were.

The World Economic Forum states: Firstly, producing an electric vehicle contributes, on average, twice as much to global warming potential and uses double the amount of energy than producing a combustion engine car.

This is mainly because of its battery. Battery production uses a lot of energy, from the extraction of raw materials to the electricity consumed in manufacture. The bigger the electric car and its range, the more battery cells are needed to power it, and consequently the more carbon produced.

Secondly, once in use, an electric vehicle is only as green as the electricity that feeds its battery.

A coal-powered battery is dirtier than a solar-powered battery. Governments can help by speeding up their transition to greener energy.

Thirdly, while an electric vehicle has a higher carbon footprint at the beginning of its lifecycle, it is typically cleaner once in use. Over time, it can catch up on the combustion engine car.

The point at which an electric vehicle’s lifetime emissions break even with a combustion engine car also depends on the car’s mileage.

Are these ‘experts’ aware that there are other countries in the world. They make it seem as though we are the only country that has to do something. Other countries pollute far more than us.

Chris Gleed, Proud Close, Purton

There are no benefits

A visit to friends in South Africa during September has prompted me to write my first letter regarding the UK leaving the EU.

Whilst waiting at the reception of the Hector Pieterson Museum (Soweto) for my lady friend to park her car, a museum tour guide approached me and began chatting. On realising I was from the UK he uttered the word ‘Brexit’; he then asked “Why is the UK tearing itself apart?” to which I replied “The then Prime Minister David Cameron wanted to end the internal fighting within his Conservative party regarding the UK being part of the EU, but in fact all it’s done is create more divisions in the party and create anger and division in society.”

He then asked “What will the benefits of leaving the EU be? and my response was “With negotiations as they are, there will be no benefits, just a huge calamity awaits the UK.”

Is there any one at the present time who can see a good future for the UK outside of the EU?

Martin Webb, Swindon Road, Old Town

Thanks all round

On the third instant I had occasion to call for an ambulance for my husband Gordon Alan Webb (known as Alan), he was readmitted to the GWH following a previous three week stay, firstly in the acute assessment unit for two weeks then Meldon and Linnet wards.

Two male paramedics were quick to respond and I cannot thank them enough for their kindness, help and patience with Alan who isn’t always an easy person to deal with. He also suffers from dementia.

Well done paramedics, you do an amazing job.

My thanks also to the nurses and doctors of the above wards who cared for Alan and a special thank you for the kind help of my neighbours Mick and Val Sheppard who made me a welcome cup of tea and Barry Stone who helped to ease the situation. My renewed thanks to all.

Shirley Webb, Church Walk South, Rodbourne Cheney

Bobby’s to the rescue

I wanted to write to you about a small act of human kindness I experienced tonight (15/10) and to say thank-you to two thoughtful people.

I was out running with my running club The Swindon Striders when I experienced a nasty dizzy spell causing me to stop.

Luckily, I was forced to stop outside a business premises which showed me nothing by kindness.

The business was Bobby’s Fish and Chip shop on Cheney Manor Road - the man and woman behind the counter noticed I was almost on the floor, struggling and offered me a bottle of water, a can of lemonade and even some chips to try and help me recover. All for free I might add, despite me offering to pay.

It may appear to be a small act to many but it meant so much to me; it helped me get back on my feet and moreover showed me, not for the first time, that Swindon is full of kind, thoughtful people.

Thank-you Bobby’s!

I am not sure whether you can print this as it may be regarded as advertising, but it’s not a plug for the business, just a thank-you from a poor, struggling runner who is now feeling a bit better thanks to the water and someone’s big heart.

Mark Jones, Swindon Striders Running Club

Full-time protestors

It’s so good to see that once again there is an opportunity for the “professional protestors” to go about their daily task of interrupting and disrupting those trying to make a living.

With things being so quiet on the Heathrow runway protests as well as several other well chosen sites, we have “employment” for this group of people.

However it always troubles me that none of the media ever asks this assortment of protestors how they can afford to man these sites 24 hours a day seven days a week.

I would like to know how they do this, is it by having welfare benefits being sent direct to them, or do they have the type of employment which allows them “time off” to pursue their chosen paths?

I know there are genuine local people who have the right to be on the protest group, but my question is about the others who are supported by our welfare system paid for by the very people they are trying to stop working.

Does any media source want to know as I do how these people are able to do this?

Kenneth F. Mitchell, High Street, Uffington