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I’m not nit-picking

Kate Linnegar the Labour Party candidate for North Swindon suggest I am ‘nit picking’ when I quote her exact words from an election leaflet issued in her name.

I don’t think highlighting ‘exactly’ what Kate wrote is nit-picking and I fear Kate has fallen into the politicians’ wish to apply the principle of Humpty Dumpty logic to words.

I am sure readers will recall “when I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less”.

Here I am quite happy to nit-pick is with her is over her claim that “Labour is doing the right thing over Brexit” and would ask her to explain Labour Party policy on Brexit, as to be fair it does change on a daily basis, something Kate alludes to in her letter.

Does Kate subscribe the Lady Nugee version, or is she in the Keir Starmer camp? Perhaps she is going to take a slimmed-down view as presented by Tom Watson, or in deference to her leader she will adopt the Jeremy Corbyn policy of sitting astride every fence that he can.

From supporting Leave – through to honouring the 2016 Referendum and now to campaign to Remain (even if a Labour government negotiates deal with the EU) the party leadership has taken a view on them all – even at the same time!

I salute Kate for her desire to unite the country. However, this noble view is difficult to reconcile when her party has an MP who has publicly stated she could never be friends with a Tory because she sees them as the “enemy”. How do you unit a country when you don’t ever intend to offer the hand of friendship?

Finally, I’m sure he Labour Party manifesto will contain ‘promises’ to do all the wonderful things listed by Kate, the problem for Kate is that the electorate no longer trust a word contained in a party manifesto, and for good reason.

So Kate please promise what the rest of us know your party has no intention (or ability) to deliver. Oh and before I am accused of political bias, let me say Justin and Robert et al will do exactly the same in an attempt to secure support.

Des Morgan, Caraway Drive, Swindon

There’s no respect

I have a problem – don’t we all in some form of capacity regarding the daily grind.

My problem is the one I share with many of my generation. It is the lack of respect regarding our fellow human beings.

The litter I see as I walk my little Westie around Covingham.

Kids on bikes with one hand on a mobile at the same time in an area the Covingham Recreation Ground where signs clearly point to dismount.

I once watched a prominent council member for the area riding his bike in the aforementioned area. Unmentioned by name, I promise.

Do not get me wrong, I am no spoilsport at my stage in the game. At one time a keen cyclist.

But some of the cyclists speed past you at a frightening rate. They could easily cause injury or snap a little dog’s spine.

Take my dog, take my life, and I am not kidding. Not to mention their arrogance on the pavements.

I would imagine this is the general consensus over most of the recreation areas and pavements in Swindon. Not to mention the town centre.

On a lighter note. I suspect as a general election gets near, to quote Brenda from Bristol, ‘no not again’.

But I would imagine that De La Rue, the company which lost the British passport deal, may make a comeback printing P45s for the clowns in Westminster as their day of reckoning draws near.

I almost forgot, we are not allowed to make a democratic decision on their disgraceful behaviour until they say so.

Bill Williams, Merlin Way, Covingham

Much more to do

The council being awarded £25m of new money to transform the town centre (September 7) has to be a chance for local problems stemming from yesterday’s idea that people on foot like sharing space with cars, or with speeding cyclists, to be solved, once and for all.

Can a small part of the funding be devoted to putting back in the kerbs and signal crossings taken out in Regent Circus? Could well-tended planters on the ugly new cycle track in Wellington Street be seen as an attraction for people who arrive in the town by train?

The streets around the centre generally would benefit from much wider kerbed pavements. Blind and disabled people, and older people in wheelchairs, would benefit by not having constantly to avoid the menace of shared space experiments. Cycle tracks could be inserted into quieter streets and have small trees separating them from the roadway.

Drivers and cyclists would themselves benefit if so-called psychological means to calm traffic were introduced. With trees carefully chosen not to cause pavement slips, and frequent signal crossings for shoppers and residents, the town centre could be given a far greener and more welcoming feel to everyone.

Peter Monk MRTPI, Unlawater Lane, Newnham