Page 18 - link magazine

LETTER FROM WESTMINSTER
18

BEVIRS Selling houses quicker and making streets safer
South Swindon MP Julia Drown writes

SOLICITORS Around 4,900 individuals and order in public places, for example
families buy and sell homes in
by closing down licensed premises.
for Independent Swindon each year. They stand to Kerb crawling is also to be made
gain from the reforms in the new an arrestable offence. The prob-
Financial Advice
Homes Bill. House sales in Eng- lems associated with prostitution
See us first for impartial guidance land and Wales are among the are a particular worry in some parts
on investment and money matters slowest in Europe; many people of Swindon. Currently only the
Offices in Swindon, Wootton have experienced the misery this prostitutes can be arrested when it
Bassett and Caine causes as buyers are gazumped is sometimes the kerb-crawlers
and deals fall through. who cause more nuisance to local
Contact Jeremy Angell A new scheme for house pur- people.
on 01249 814536 chases has been piloted success- I have visited Princess Margaret
Authorised by the Law Society to fully in Bristol and the Govern- Hospital on a number of occasions
conduct investment business ment now plans to extend it na- recently to congratulate depart-
tionwide. Sellers or their agents initiatives - including one in the ments on the fine work they have
done in reducing waiting times for
Link Centre. I have also spent time
will be required to produce a 'sell-
WILLS including the result of a local search with the police on their late evening treatment. The Audiology De-
er's pack' of standard documents
patrol around the town.
partment is particularly impres-
and a'home condition report.' This Swindon is one of the safest ar- sive. Over the last year the waiting
Professionally drawn by stops unnecessary duplication by eas in the country. Nevertheless, time for patients to get a hearing
potential buyers and brings down we still have serious issues to tackle aid has been cut from 21 months to
THE RIND EWS costs. It also cuts the period of here - including the fear of crime. 25 weeks.
uncertainty between accepting an So the statistics should be reassur- I am pleased that the Govern-
PARTNERSHIP offer and exchange of contracts. ing. In Swindon, crime has ment is delivering the funds to
The government's plans have the dropped by 4% over the last year; ensure that by 2005, the maximum
A professionally prepared the police have been particularly waiting time for in-patient treat-
will can avoid delay and backing of the Consumers Asso- effective at tackling household ment is six months, and three
ciation and leading building soci-
distress for your family eties such as Nationwide, as well burglaries, down by 17% and ve- months for out-patients. The
Home visit service: as the surveyors' and estate agents' hicle crime down by 25%. progress in Swindon shows that
Single £49.95 professional bodies. The Criminal Justice and Police this can be achieved.
Double £69.95 A new Criminal Justice and Po- Bill will give the police extra pow- To get in touch with me please
lice Bill is also going through Par- ers to deal quickly and effectively write to 13 Bath Road, Swindon,
Tel: (01793) 642245 liament. Recently I held two pub- with anti-social behaviour and dis- SN1 4NS. Tel: 615444.

Stop crime: let the police know
The three West Swindon beat officers are calling on residents to call
the Crimestoppers hotline and help beat the criminal.
PC Phil Conner for Toothill/ stolen property. Your call could
Westlea, Rob Mortimer for result in illegal activity being
Freshbrook/Grange Park, and stopped and may help us put a
WPC Rob Jones, who covers Shaw piece in a bigger jigsaw.
and Peatmoor/Sparcells, are ap- "You are our eyes and ears in the
pealing to people to let them know community. Help us press down
if they think something wrong is on crime to maintain a safer com-
taking place. munity"
"We're conscious that people You do not have to give your
think Crimestoppers is more con- name to Crimestoppers when you
cerned with big crimes which gets call 0800 555 111.
national coverage on television," Phil and Pat wanting your help
said Phil.
"Crimestoppers ap-
plies at a local level. If
you think something
illegal is taking place -
no matter how trivial -
For your retirement living we currently have let us know, your sus-
vacancies at Brain Court, Stratton St. Margaret picions may be right."
Pat said that every
and Windmill Court, Freshbrook, Swindon. piece of information
would be acted upon
Please contact our Regional Office:
because a report has to
Western Region, 10 The Parade made on every referral
Marlborough, Wiltshire SN8 I NE from Crimestoppers.
Tel: 01672 515622 "We cannot predict the
outcome of investiga-
tions, but perhaps you
James Butcher know of drug dealing
going on, or an un-
Housing Association taxed car, or maybe
somebody is handling