Roadworks a shambles

I have been a streetworks supervisor for many years and now retired having worked in all areas of England.

I have never seen such a complete shambles as the works all going on in Swindon.

There is obviously no coordination between the works scheduled at all. Also preplanned surveys to what is already in the ground or ground radar scales.

Malcolm Lyons

Ex SSE streetworks

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Memories of Status Quo's car park concert

Re Car Park Concert. As stated in Tim Crook's correspondence there was a concert in the car park in July 1968.

It was in fact organised by the Swindon Youth Council an association of youth clubs, church youth groups and apprentice associations of which I and a colleague represented Pressed Steel apprentices.

The third group, the Nite People in fact failed to turn up. Tickets were 10 shillings (50p) and we sold over 2000 tickets.

If memory serves me well the groups cost a total of around £600 of which we saved £50 from the no show group.

As we were two of the older members we were tasked with getting the Quo to and from the Alliance Club (their dressing room) in a council Land Rover all of 200 yards.

It was a great evening with coachloads from the Midlands coming to see the Equals who were top of the bill after just having "Baby Come Back" top of the hit parade.

Great Memories.

Peter Carr

Dunbar Road

Wroughton

Question attackers not sex assault victims

We have just seen two significant events.

The first was the astonishing Lib Dem win in the Chesham and Amersham by-election‎.

Having been to Buckinghamshire to help, I found huge numbers of former Conservative and Labour voters flocking with real enthusiasm to their now new MP, Sarah Green's banner. They were sick and tired of these two, old parties taking them for granted.

With our own Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner re-run beckoning, that win is a huge boost to my campaign to beat the Conservatives here.

The second very important event was the Government's apology to all those, mainly women, who have been raped or sexually assaulted and seen the total failure to bring their attacker to justice.

While the apology is welcome, it is real, sustained and determined action that is urgently needed‎.

Project Bluestone being run next door by Avon and Somerset ‎Police has seen officers properly trained and working alongside academics with a real focus on questioning and investigating the alleged attackers rather than their victims.

I want Wiltshire Police to adopt this way of working. It is appalling that abusers are getting away with these appalling crimes that destroy lives.

Under my watch as our Police and Crime Commissioner that will come to an end and they will be brought to justice.

Dr Brian Mathew

Liberal Democrat Candidate for Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner

& Wiltshire Councillor

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