Page 5 - link magazine

FRESHBROOK & GRANGE PARK 5

Ten years for Driver aggro forces Lisa to quit
playgroup Parents and children crossing
Worsely Road, Freshbrook are now
Freshbrook playgroup celebra ted its in great danger following the
tenth anniversary in March with a resignation of lollypop lady Lisa
party at Freshbrook Community Watts in mid-March,afterjustayear
Centre for 150 parents and children. in the job. She suffers from
Members of management osteoporosis, or brittle bones, and
committees, parents and staff from the cold weather earlier in the year
the past also attended. made the job very uncomfortable.
Pictured right, Doreen Shaw, the first However, herdecision was forced
afternoon supervisor (centre) holds Leon on herby the uncaring attitude of so
Adams, one of the youngest children in many of the drivers she had to stop
the group, as present playgroup in the course of her duties. "The
supervisor Brenda Groves (left) and Jill aggravation from some drivers was swimmers in the Link Centre pool.
Budden, one of the first committee amazing. Many are parents She backstroked 200 lengths, taking
members, hold up a birthday cake. themselves, who don't seem to think nearly three and half hours.
pedestrian safety is important.
Worsely Road is a dangerous
Early school start proposed & opposed crossing point, but drivers just speed Facechoice
along and resent the fact that I step
Proposals to make an earlier start to educationally; children's concen- into the road to stop them." Pharmacy
the day at Freshbrook School have tration and attention span is much She said that her most frightening
come under fire from parents who better in the morning. The long moment was when a car swung out Freshbrook
have collected over 150 names on a lunch break is unnecessary, disrup- from behind a milk float and Village Centre
petition objecting to the move. tive and anti-social." accelerated towards her. The Tel: 870226
School presently starts at 9am and He admitted that the letter sent to funniest took place when the wheel
ends at 3.30pm, with a 75 minute parents was not clear, but said no fell off a push chair in the middle of
break for lunch. From September decision had been made on the the road. Opening Times:
the Governing body wants school to proposal. He said that the governors Lisa would like to thank all the Monday - Friday
commence at 8.30am and finish at would next be meeting on 9 April pedestrians who thanked her for 9am -lpm
2.30pm, reducing lunchtime to 45 and parents had been invited to doing the job and the drivers who 2.1 5pm - 630pm
minutes. attend a consultation meeting on 16 gave a smile as they passed. Tuesday
Jackie Corbin, parent and chair of April. "The governors have 9am- 1pm; 2.15pm-5pm
the Freshbrook's Rainbow identified a problem and we must • Lisa raised over £100 in the recent Saturday 9am - 12noon
playgroup, said that the change do something about it. We want to Swimathon with 50 other sponsored
would be disruptive to working discuss the problem with parents
parents and the organisation of the and hopefully agree a solution."
playgroup. "It will be very difficult The governor/parent consul-
for parents who have to deliver tation meeting on 16 April starts at
children to both school and 8pm in the Willows Hall. HOMELOVERS
playgroup."
Sue Smith, of Wentworth Park,
said that the early start and finish Youth needs Does you home need
would cause great difficulty for a little care and attention?
working women who have to for discussion
persuade employers to be flexible in The managers of Freshbrook Com- From a once-a-year spring clean to regular
their hours. She added that the letter munity Centre are holding a public
informing parents of the proposals meeting on Monday 8 April to talk domestic help, Homelovers has the answer.
indicated that the changes will take about how the needs of local young
effect from September, whilst people can be met. All aspects of domestic help
inviting them to a meeting to discuss The voluntary committee which are covered by this service
the change. runs the centre believes that there
Chair of governors Jo Wylie said should be access to the building by - ironing, oven cleaning, etc.
the changes have been talked about teenagers, but at the same time is Call Les Daniels on 727926
for two years. "When there were concerned that there is abuse of the
nearly 800 children in the school, we facility and other users.
needed a long lunch break. With Management committee chair-
around 600 children and fewer tak- manTerry Isles said there were large THAMESWOOD
ing cooked lunches, we are in a po- numbers of youngsters growing up VETERINARY CLINIC
sition to reduce the break. in the area and the centre should be
"An early start is good responding to their needs. Nicholas Hartley MA.. Vet. M.B. M.R.C.V.S.
Centre manager Maureen Barker West Swindon - Tel: 526780
On offer at Freshbrook said that 30 to 40 young people con- 62 - 64 Purton Road.
Community Centre gregate outside the centre some- Mon. - Fri. 9am-6.30pm C
Saturday 9am- 11am
times. "The cafe area is used infor- 0
• venue for a new community group mally by young people. Unfortu- I,,
C
• fun place for a children's party nately there are complaints by other Old Town. Tel: 542300 __ 0
' •Wootton
We are
:assett ')
• big hail for wedding receptions centre users about the behaviour of 1 Ashford Road (see map)

here
Road —
,
• large kitchen • ilcenced bar a tiny minority. We want every- Mon. - Fri. 9am-6.30pm Co
• public telephone • photocopier body to use the building, but if some Fri. 2pm-3pm IAshfor cL
11 Road IF-
Find outwhars available atyour commu- people want to impose themselves Saturday 5.30pm-6.30pm
nitycentre,drop in or call Plaureen Barker, on others, what are we to do?" East Swindon. Tel: 511267
centre manager, at the Village Centre, All interested parties are invited 29 Cavendish Square.
Freshrook. Tel: 871017
to the meeting which starts at 8pm. 24 Hour Emergency & Advice Service