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FR ENDS

Are you lonely, fed-up, hard up, frustrated with your lot? No one to talk to?
A branch of the Thamesdown Friendship Clubs has opened in this area, on Tuesdays
at 2 pm. in the Community Room, Toothill School. Friendship Clubs exist to
help people who find it hard to socialise or make friends in the community.
It costs nothing to belong, except your time. Come along to our get-together
or give us a. call on 40876 between 11 am and 1.30 pm, Monday to Wednesday.
Freshbrook Village Group

The Village Group is established to benefit the inhabitants of Freshbrook and indeed every resident
of Freshbrook is a Village Group member. The group owns and runs the temporary community centre
at the Village Centre which is widely used by various groups in the area. Within the next two years
we shall see a purpose built community building built by Thamesdown.

As a group, we try to take up matters arising from within the area-things that affect you-roads,
street lights or general improvements. It must be stressed that without support from the residents
of Freshbrook, the Group could not exist; so please come along and have a say about how Freshbrook
s1 ould be developed. Your contribution is IMPORTANT. Our NEXT MEETING will be at the Commun-
ity Centre on 10th November at 7.30pm . The F.V.G. needs you!
A Message to the young people of Freshbrook ... the Senior Youth Club (15+) is on Monday nights and
the Juniors is on Friday nights, 7.30pm start in the temporary community centre.
estlea Resident a

Meetings of the Executive Committee are held on the third Monday of each
month in the Sunshine Room. Although they are committee meetings any resident
of Westlea is welcome to sit in, especially if they have a particular problem
that the Association may be able to help with. Our Councilllors, both Borough
and County, are regular visitors and take note of problems and act on our behalf
If you have a problem please contact your street rep. or Nick Jansen,
6 Moresby Close.

A street rep. is required for Alveston Close and, of course, some of the new
And What About Toothill
roads. Next Meeting of the WRA is Monday 15th November, 7.30pm

Toothill residents will have read in the September Link that the officers of
the Toothill Residents Organisation have resigned. Right now, therefore,
there is no community organisation in Toothill which is trying to bring people
together. Does this matter?
In other parts of Swindon there are Community Councils and Residents
Associations which try to do several things.
They a) bring people together in a regular forum to discuss common issues
individuals as well as representatives of community groups,
b) take up problems which affect the whole area, i.e. street names,
lighting, pollution, lack of amenities with both local councils and other big
organisations which affect our lives so much,
c) put on social events which involves the whole area - carnivals, fetes
bon-fires,
d) try to give- an area identity, a positive image - like "Toothill is O.K.
O.K."
e) they often manage community centres which can be a focus for people
living in an area.
Keeping a residents organisation going is hard work there is no doubt about
that. It takes time, energy and commitment. But do residents of Toothill see
any benefit to them in the list above? Is it important to bring people in the
area together? Are you quite happy with"the way things are? Have all the
needs and problems gone away? Is it important for the new community centre to
be managed by local people? So many questions! Is there anybody in Toothill
who can give me some answers? If you can, get in touch, Roger Ogle, Community
Development. Officer. 2 61 61 ext. 319 1 .