Page 38 - link magazine
P. 38
38 The Link Magazine • November 2003
Keep the helicopter in the air Conservation group gets community
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance is seeking people to create a team of backing in dispute with council
volunteer supporters in the Swindon area. At a well attended meeting at the Haydon Wick Parish Council
The Boeing helicopter based
at Devizes is shared with the offices at the beginning of October, members of the Seven Fields
Conservation Group committee were given full support in their
police, and the air ambulance
service has to contribute criticism of Swindon Council about how they carry out work on the
nature reserve and their unsatisfactory liaison with the group.
£320,000 annually to its up-
keep. Staff are on duty for 19 The meeting heard of concerns council before the end of January
hours a day, 365 days a year, over the construction of the Pond were endorsed. If that date is not
and medical tasks always get ^r ...: Street to Whitworth Road cycle met, the committee was author-
t f path, the removal of hedgerow ised to refer the matter to the local
priority.
For safety reasons the heli- trees and the way that ragwort, government ombudsman.
copter could not land in Swin- poisonous to animals, was allowed Four councillors from the wards
don before the opening of the to develop amidst grass waiting to were present to hear of the prob-
Great Western Hospital last be cropped as hay. lems first hand but Fionuala Foley,
December. However now that Residents from Greenmeadow, cabinet lead member for Swindon
it is in greater use, the service is desperate to raise its profile in the town Abbey Meads, Penhill and further Services, the department which is
and get more people involved in keeping it flying. afield, regard the area as a valu- the butt of much of the criticism,
For details of how to help, call Tracey Edwards on 01225 759217. able nature reserve and a place of was unable to attend.
rural peace. Those present at the The group's secretary, Marilyn
meeting acknowledged the impor- Beale, said, "we were very pleased
Shifting litter in Shaw tant work committee members do. with the support demonstrated.
Thirty people turned up to the A resolution from the floor, reaf- We have worked hard as volun-
Shaw litter pick in early October. firmed full support for the group's teers to preserve and improve this
Organised jointly by the Holy aims, adding that these objections important resource in North Swin-
Trinity Church eco-congregation are now even more valid that be- don, and we hope that the strength
and Shaw Residents Association fore. of feeling expressed by those
the volunteers picked through The actions taken by the com- present will help us to make some
shrubs, beds and hedges close to mittee in trying to get a resolution significant progress with the coun-
the village centre to remove piles of outstanding issues with the cil."
of bottles, cans, chip wrappers and
kebab boxes. Staff needed to let pre-schoolers start
Further litter picks are being Young children desperate to start learning through play are being
planned and will be publicised in denied a chance due to a lack of teaching assistants.
due course. Organisers at Westlea Pre-School at Langstone Way, Westlea, have
Tidying up their neighbourhood, Chris a waiting list of children who want to take their first steps in education
and May Maynard, Gail Reeve but they are unable to invite them into the classroom because recent
advertisements for teaching assistants have failed to generate any
uignificant interest.
Anyone interested in working with children can apply as previous
KINGFISHER experience is not essential. For details call Tamara Lewis on 877599.
Could you be a radio presenter?
IMNDOWS'D00RS.CONSERVATOWES Swindon FM, the town's only dedicated digital radio station, is on the
lookout for new talent to help provide the unique service to the town.
They are looking for people to help with everything from in front of
THE CLEAR CHOICE the microphone to behind the scenes, through maintenance, advertis-
ing and even assisting presenters in the studio.
If you feel you have something to offer, please contact the station's
FOR QUALITY, programme co-ordinator, Carl Humphreys either by e-mail to
[email protected] or by phone to 01793 509892.
VALUE AND SECURITY Swindon FM broadcasts every weekend on DAB Digital Radio and
24/7 at www.swindonfm.co.uk
• Full Range of PVC-U and Aluminium Products
• Various Colours and Finishes LETTER TO THE LINK
• Competitive Finance Options should be sent by 10th of the month to the address on page 4.
(written details on request)
9 10 Year Guarantee Diabetes thanks
From Matthew Spencer, Secretary, Swindon Group, Diabetes UK
Visitors are always welcome
Open 6 days a week Firstly, may I thank you for publi- on Salisbury Street, Swindon. The
Mon to Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm cising our October meeting in guest speaker is dietitian Rachel
Saturday 8.00am - 12.30pm Swindon Link. I am pleased to be Halkyard from the Great Western
able to report a very successful Hospital who will describe how
meeting, attracting an audience of cholesterol levels may be control-
Ufr 36 persons - well above our aver- led naturally. This talkwill explain
9514,2 PLASTtS age. This is surely due - at least in how good control may be achieved
4n0^
KM 40251
Grt. part - to the publicity which you through careful diet choices.
FOR FREE LOCAL ADVICE AND ESTIMATE
were able to give the meeting. In- Attendance is open to anyone
way
deed, I received several phone calls with an interest in diabetes and its
from persons who had read details management and admission is free.
in your magazine. Further details about meetings and
Our November meeting will take the Swindon group can be obtained
UNIT 7, BARNFIELD ROAD, GREAT WESTERN WAY, WE ARE
SWINDON SN2 2DJ HERE place on Tuesday 4 November, by calling me on 851229 or mail:
7.30pm, at the Broadgreen Centre [email protected]
