Page 1 - link magazine

west Swindon's

Magazine EXPRESS

CYCLE SPECIALIST

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96 - 99 Manchester Road, Swindon
o. 115 • October 1991 • Circulation 10,500
ir (0793) 534907 & 513705

EXCLUSIVE
G.P & Pharmarcist 7moce

told to quit

Toothill's G.P Dr Kandy Kandiah and pharma-
cist Ralph Palmer have been told to get out of
their premises by Thamesdown Council.
The Council's housing committee wants to
reclaim the houses in Deerhurst Way. They
have been occupied as health facilities for the 1 Turn to the centre pages where you'll find Swindon's first ever
last fifteen years. green' community map. Pull it out, leave the car behind and get out
However local councillor Ricky Midwinter and discover the walk ways around West Swindon.
has branded the decision taken without consul- 49 Also included is a guide on where to recycle waste.
tation as an 'absolute disgrace,' and is calling for And there's also news on page 21 about two recycling experiments
support in a campaign to reverse the decision. for local people to take part in
"I'm shocked by the insensistive and auto-
cratic attitude taken by the council. We've Choosing a school - A decision not to be taken lightly
always strived to ensure there are facilities to go
with houses. There are many elderly people At this time of year parents all over West Swin- accompanied by a short commentary.
and parents with young children who find it don are preparing to visit secondary schools However statistics are at best a crude indica-
difficult, if not impossible, to go further afield. before making a choice for their children's fu- tors of performance and at worst are open to all
The social consequences of losing important ture education. manner of interpretation and misreprèsenta-
medical provision in Toothill will be enormous. For the last three years The Link magazine has tion, which then develops into myth about a
"The decision was taken in secret without visited the three education authority secondary particular school. We all know the famed adage
consultation with local members. Now I'm schools designated to take children from West about 'lies, damned lies and statistics'!
calling on local people to support campaign to Swindon, and St Joseph's Roman Catholic What is certain is that all three schools are
make the council back down." school. Each year we have taken a different different in their character and history. Each is
He pointed out that the Spa rcells surgery also approach in order to assist parents in their dif- also different in terms of the resources allocated
run by Dr Kandiah will be threatened as well, ficult decision. to it, experience of staff, range of subjects on
because he is developing lists in both areas and This year is the first time when exam results offer, nature of the catchment area and so on.
one depends upon the other. have been available from all three LEA schools. Our comment to this year's parents,and those
The housing committee's decision goes be- The headteachers from Braden Forest, Purton, following them is: use the information printed
fore Thamesdown's ruling Labour group on Greendown at Grange Park and The Ridgeway on pages 22 and 23 as a guide, visit the schools,
Wednesday 9 October. at Wroughton have responded to our request to look for what's behind the statistics and choose
Court Midwinter can be contacted on 873537. publish a summary of their results, which is what is best for your child. Good luck.

Fears for future of firework night party
West Swindon's annual community bonfire there's always a small band of volunteers avail- Also this month
night extravaganza at Toothill Farm in Novem- abletobuild thebonfire. But there are many jobs Swindon Town F.C. captain
ber could turn out to be a damp squib, unless to be done in the two months leading up to it.
people living in the area help organise it. "I'm sure there are lots of people in the area Cohn Calderwood will be
The bonfire and fireworks display has been with the skills to keep the event going and presenting the trophies at
held for the last twelve years. The event has develop it for the future." the Greendown School/Link
been growing over the last few years, with more She said that there would still be a bonfire on
fireworks, children's guy making workshops 1 November but at a reduced level, unless vol- Magazine community soccer
and entertainment being added to the evening. unteers come forward to help out. tournament organised by
In the past only a handful of people organised A meeting is being held on Wednesday 9 parents. Details on page 13.
the evening, with most of the burden falling on October, 7.30pm atToothill Farmhouse, Bodiam
community workers from Thamesdown Coun- Drive, for anybody who wants to get involved.
cil's Community Development Division. Miriam Minty can provide more information on *There are three pizza meals
Now, greater ef forts are being made to spread 871212 ext. 234 or 421821. worth £45 to be won in our
the load and get more people involved. Neigh- 'The bright lights will really be put out in the great Pizza Hut first birthday
bourhood worker Miriam Minty said that the West if the Toothill community bonfire night
bonfire event had become very popular, but at does not take place. ASDA stopped the West competition on page 28.
the same time more complex to organise. "Over Swindon Centre aerial fireworks display after It's easy. Have ago!
2,000 people enjoyed the event last year and some minor injuries took place at the 1989 event. .1