Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • May 2002
So long to silly status. Now let's be a city!

Swindon Council's city aspirations have been dashed Moreover, the whole process of becoming a city took on a
by the government. The decision came through just medieval nature, with each town extolling its virtues to the
before the April edition went to press. monarch for recognition on high. There was something silly
We have always expressed scepticism about the official and even insulting about the whole business. Meanwhile
bids to the Queen to be declared a city, the first before the t ^ ^ some local media tried to convince people that becoming a
turn of the millennium and now for the jubilee. The (A&(-RjtGj ooa city was good for them whilst different towns sniped at each
benefits were never adequately explained and the people others' merits
of Swindon were never involved in the proposals. With a mounting range of problems in Swindon, not least
the disastrous Ofsted report on the way the council runs education,
nobody was really surprised that city status was not forthcoming. As
we wrote in the April 2000 Link, the town's rapid expansion has created
a sense of discontinuity compounded by cutbacks in essential services
and grants to voluntary organisations.
EXTENSION PLAN The experience in 2001-2 is little different, although the threat of
massive reductions in arts and cultural funding, grants to voluntary
Your local Architectural Design and Planning Services groups and closure of libraries has been lifted for the time being by
Swindon Council's tax increase of 15.5%. It should be noted that council
Call: CITIES PROJECTS Swindon 877886 tax here is still the lowest in the region.
Nevertheless, there is no question: Swindon is a good place to live
and there are plans to make it better. The mayor for the last year David
For all your wedding accessories
Cox comments on page 10 on how he has discovered the energy and
n • Bridesmaids dresses • Handcrafted tiaras vitality there is here.
• Veils • Lingerie • Jewellery As we have said before, Swindon needs to take stock about what it
• Bridal shoes • Handbags means to be a successful big town. And somebody needs to pull
All at affordable prices together what is required to engage people in what it is to be a
^o sy}, at ^e bA,
Call us today Swindonian in the 21st Century.
Now the formal silliness of city bidding is out of the way, perhaps a
www.copperbox.co.uk Copperbox Ltd. 01793 879974
plan should be created to turn ourselves into a city. By that we mean,
improve the facilities and the infrastructure and when we have the
confidence and believe it, then we should call ourselves a city - just do
r
C1?a% ^I it. Never mind what the Queen or Tony Blair thinks.
Is there any restriction on Swindon calling itself a city if its people
SE( think it is one? What are your views?
S
The positive Swindon page
liii E(I / iZ7 1 We've created a page at www.swindonlink.com where you can
publish positive views about Swindon. Tell us what you like and
what you think can be Improved.
Windows, Doors
& Conservatories Forward thinking
In April the Government an-
PVCu, Hardwood,
nounced that it was keen to re-
Aluminium duce restrictions on gambling. But
Swindon Council appears to be
Primary & ahead of the game by helping to
Secondary Glazing direct drivers to the betting shop
at Roughmoor Village Centre
8 a 02 . met, .. L Compliant from a roundabout on Mead Way.
(New thern- sulation legislation) A council spokesman said the income from business sponsorship
signs in roundabout planting beds is ploughed into the grounds main-
tenance budget, but he accepted that the arrows with the council's logo
ASK FOR e&3 c on this example could send out confusing messages.
FOR QUALITY - FOR SERVICE - FOR VALUE
SUPPLY & FIT OR SUPPLY ONLY. TRADE OR RETAIL

Published by
West Swindon Publications
Papermakers House, Westlea
Swindon SN5 7BD
Tel: (01793) 872282
Fax: (01793) 878189 "The Link was first published for the West
e: [email protected] Swindon community in December 1978.
www.swindonlink.com It is completely independent of Link Centre
and, in fact, won a competition to name the
Publisher/Editor: Roger Ogle leisure centre in 1984. Distribution in North
Editorial: Tel: (01793) 872282 Swindon commenced in January 1994."
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