Page 13 - link magazine

west 5 wIndon's • The Link Magazine
Magazine & WEST are published by
IestSir
F,bIicats
THE 13 Castle Dore • Freshbrook

Swindon
Tel: (0793) 872282
JXK-.. (Editorial and Advertising)

Copy date is 17th of the month
No. 124 124 . July 1992. Circulation 10,500
preceding publication

Rocking for the youth of the west All weather pitch

The 1,200 people who attended the Charity ment. I like the music and I wanted tobe here hours restricted
Concert on 14 June to remember the late coun- because Ricky helped me and also campaigned
dillorRicky Midwinter got an extra half an hour with us to get rising-fives into school." Use of the astroturf all weather surface at Green-
of entertainment when top of the bill act The Ricky's widow May said she was proud that down Community School has been reduced
Tremeloes decided to do yet another encore as so many people supported the concert. following a temporary injunction at Swindon
the crowds were leaving the Link Centre. The profits from the event will go towards the County Court on 17 June granted to Mark and
Their foot-stomping performance headlined Ricky Midwinter Trust which will aim to help Tracy Fisher and John and Ruth Spranklin, resi-
a trip down memory lane for the hundreds of the youth of West Swindon, a cause close to dents of Gower Close, Grange Park.
'forty-somethings' and lots of others right across Ricky's heart. The residents are taking court action against
across the age spectrum. Concert organiser Andy Cotton from Wiltshire County Council and Mr Roger Ogle,
Mike Penders Searchers, The Merseybeats Middleleaze said he and co-organisers Kevin chairman of Greendown govenors over use of
and Roger Cook brought together a line-up and Libby Stevens wanted to thank everybody the pitch.
which has been going strong for nigh-on thirty who bought tickets. "We've had lots of positive Jude Mark Dyer agreed with their claim that
years, and the crowd loved it. feedback from people who said it was a fantas- light from the floodlights around the pitch and
Pam Pounder from Tintagel Close, Toothil tic show. The Link Centre is a great venue and the noise made byusers was an invasion of their
said, "I'm sorry for those who missed the show. I hope there will be more shows there. privacy and made a temporary injunction by
Itwas very good value formoneyand fora good • Also rocking in the aisles were the winners reducing the number of hours which it can be
cause." of our competition for fiee tickets in last month's used.
Sandra Brewer fromSta mford Close, Toothil Link : Mrs B Cook of Woodchester, Westlea, Until a full hearing to argue whether the
said she arrived early to be in the front row. "It John Shields of Newark Close, Freshbrook and injunctionbemadepermanentand tohearclaims
was brilliant. The bands gave great entertain- S. Parry of Ramleaze Drive, Shaw fordamages, the pitch canonlybe used forthree
days a week between 9am and 5pm and on two
May Midwinter gets her hands on Rick Westwood's well travelled antique Gibson, The Tremel ces from left, days between 9amand 9pm. Itcan only beused
Alan Black, Dave Munden, Davey Fryer, Joe Gillingham, Rick Westwood
on two Saturdays in the month between 9am
and 6pm and not on Sundays.
Counsel for the residents told the court that
the pitch was being used between 9am and 9pm
on weekdays, on Saturdays from 9am until
6pm, and Sundays 9am to 1pm. He said they
had had to suffer unreasonable intrusion and
inconvenience from its use.
Counsel defending the county council and
Mr Ogle for the governors argued that there had
not bçn enough time since notice of legal action
had been served to produce evidence to the
court that the pitch is not an actionable nui-
sance. The pitch had already been in use for
eighteen months and the status quo should be
retained.
A full hearing is likely to take place before
September 20.
A spokesman for Greendown School said the
5pm restriction would curtail school activities
as students use the all weather pitch for prac-
tices and for matches against other schools. The
school was also committed to a full programme
of use by community based sports clubs whose
Community centre under attack from fire raiser fixtures now face severe disruption.
Allen Brown, chairman of major pitch users
The bar club at Freshbrook Community Centre The £25,000 cost of reinstating the bar will be Swindon Hockey Club and also a resident of
will be out of action for three months following covered by the centre's insurance and Cower Close, said the club was facing a major
a serious fire late on 25 May. Thamesdown Council. However there are wor- crisis as a result of the court decision. "The club
The bar lounge was completely destroyed riesthatstructuraldamagehastaken place which was improving all the time because of the su-
aftera window was smashed and petrol was set may require extensive rebuilding. perb facility. The club runs eight teams and
light on the furnishings. It had been completely The police have interviewed a local man in training sessions for up 100 youngsters on Sat-
refurbished and reopened last September. connection with the fire. urday mornings."