Page 43 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • March 2002 43
Sainsbury's silence throws up
smoke screen to obscure inaction
Sainsbury's has been accused of laying a 'smoke screen' to cover up
the reasons behind its smoking policy.
For over a year Stephen Walker
from Grange Park has been trying Tel: SWINDON [011981100105
to persuade the supermarket to ShOW Parts and accessories
make the restaurant at its With 230 bikes on
Repairs workshop
Bridgemead store smoke free. The THE choice is great Open: Mon to Sat
Link first published his complaint
9am to 5.30pm
this time last year, 12 months after THE price is right
an article in the January 2000 Link Closed Sundays
encouraged Asda to do a U turn THE forecourt parking is free
and ban smoking from the whole
of the West Swindon Centre. T9 C^EfICF37OA
As a former GP Stephen is very
familiar with the ill effects of smok- sacnamI
ing. "Cigarette smoke kills. No Bridgemead store ni anager, says it O
one doubts that," he said. "You is up to head office to decide policy. C
don't even have to smoke the ciga- Stalemate, as well as stale air. 1
WE A
rette yourself - breathing someone They could not or would not HERE
else's smoke can be just as danger- explain how they justified their Toni ,,u
NNA
ous. So why do Sainsbury's con- smoking policy, when I first com-
tinue to expose customers and staff plained, despite being 'aware of 60a Beechcroft Road (ex car showroom)
to a known health hazard?" the health risks'. So what is the Between Stratton Crossroads and Kingsdown
After discussing his complaints problem Sainsbury's? Why the
with the local store manager, smokescreen, what are you afraid
Stephen took his campaign to of?
Sainsbury's head office who au- "If you are planning to follow
thorised a customer opinion sur- the advice of the World Health
vey on smoking last summer and a Organisation and ban smoking in
decision on smoking policy was to public places, say so. If not, come CL?a^ iz
^
be made at board level. clean and tell us why not."
His attempts to find out the re- Following the decision to ban
sult have been met with a wall of smoking at the West Swindon Cen- D1PEii Gi niww
silence. "They have ignored my tre, including the Asda Red Bal-
enquiries on the outcome of last loon restaurant, no reduction in
year's survey. Head office no business was reported. Indeed cus- Windows, Doors
longer responds to letters or my tomers commented favourably & Conservatories
phone calls, not that they gave about the move.
much away before clamming up. The Link invited Sainsbury's to PVCu, Hardwood,
Head office says it is a decision for make a statement about their smok- Aluminium
local management. Robin Ireland, ing policy but they did not reply.
Primary &
Letters to The Link Secondary Glazing
Where does all the money go? April 2002 Document L Compliant
From Ramnik Mehta, Ramleaze (New thermal insulation legislation)
I was interested to read the expla- salaries compares with all tax pay-
nations for proposed council tax ers salaries. Do not forget we have
increases by well over three times many service industries paying
the inflation rate from the leaders rock bottom salaries in Swindon.
of the three political parties in the The new housing developments
February Link. in Swindon represent more rate-
Mike Bowden is blaming the able properties and more income.
government for giving less grant I am sure after accounting for extra
for the next financial year but does provision of services to the new
not give comparative value for the areas there would be an economy
current year. Money value is more of scale benefit accruing to the
meaningful and understandable council and the tax payers.
than a percentage figure. Perhaps Without going too much into
you can give this so your readers detail, I believe it would be simple
can understand. to explain:
The council want to plough an 1. What the council spends in the
additional £1.55 million into edu- current year for what services.
cation. What will we be getting in
return? More of the same? How 2. What the council will be spend-
can the state or county council ing in the next financial year for
improve education by giving more identical services?
money to the same professional 3. What we will be getting for the
people? Does more money make additional rates we are asked to
them give more value? From fork out?
where? Perhaps your readers could Simplified unadulterated infor-
have some comparative figures to mation without political propa-
understand how education sector ganda please.