Page 4 - link magazine

4 The Link Magazine • September 200 5
Angry and proud.
Do they go together in Swindon?
The Swindon Advertiser launched their Swindon and proud of it
campaign in July in response to the ill considered criticism of our town
by a nondescript style guru. Alan Hayward asks if the right questions are
being asked.
Swindon is constantly derided • proposals being considered in
by many who know nothing about North Wilts to build more houses
the place, and also by others who on Swindon's borders;
have moved away (including sev- • and currently - the most anger
eral celebrities). In the late 1990s inducing of them all – concreting
Swindon Council launched an ill over the fields next to Coate Water
judged 'Proud to be Swindon' cam- Country Park for yet more houses,
paign which quickly faded. yet another business park and a
1 like Swindon a lot. I love its
MOT TESTING AND rural location, am interested in its misplaced university campus.
There are campaigns running on
REPAIRS history, protective of its assets and many of these issues, all seeking to
reclined in its laid-back attitude. I
make an impact on the public con-
am glad to raise my children here sciousness and local and central
EXHAUST TYRES AND and to live in such a place. But am Government. But why do we have
so many'angries?'
I proud?
BATTERIES

AIR CONDITIONING
SERVICE

VALET SERVICE

n CAR HIRE

An,r: Su'indon. Marchers outside the Mechanics' Institute in April
Free collection & delivery The current Advertiser campaign The decisions that bring about the
seemed a good idea at first, but as unhappiness are made at both local
the weeks have passed the trum- and central government levels - by
Free loan cars (subject to availability)
peting articles on reasons to be people we vote (or don't vote) for.
Lift to and proud seem to miss the crucial At the last local council elections
point and be out of touch with the the turnout was about 30 per cent.
from work w4 0 reality of Swindon today. The winning candidates got in with
It seems almost perverse that about 15 per cent of the Borough's
Wash and gOp V there are so many wrong and bad population approval. It is only
things happening in the locality, slightly better at national level.
vac with all sasbs
WEST
SWINDON m ° e and that many residents are un- Saying 'it's not worth voting, it
°
servicing happy and definitely 'not proud.' won't make any difference' is
Do any of the following make you clearly not true. It does. If you
angry?: don't vote for somebody who
N • the forlorn state of the Mechan- broadly holds your point of view
ics' Institute; then it is likely that you will em-
• the proposed conversion of the power somebody who does not.
former Railway Museum from a There is absolutely no point in
FISH BROTHERS community venue into yet more moaning about how the town is
offices; run if you don't do anything about
TO BOOK OR FIND OUT MORE PLEASE
• the proposed development of the it. Change for the better will only
CONTACT RONI. CHRISTINE OR ANDY ON
Rodbourne allotments; come if you - the person who has
01793 645510 • the botched closure of Salt Way read this far - does something.
School; I am optimistic that there are
• turning the Front Garden into a signs that things are changing.
r _______o_ housing estate the size of Wootton There may be a proper bricks and
FISH BROTHERS Bassett; mortar library, the return of the
• the(dismissed)stadiumonShaw canal to the town centre is being
NISSAN
• Forest Country Park; considered, commercial exploita-
ALL MAKES • • • completely de-regulating taxis; tion of the Mechanics' Institute
• axing grants to the voluntary
could be blocked, and some coun-
SERVICING OFF R and community sector; cillors are publicly opposing the
• charging town centre residents
destruction of Coate.
I in the future - town centre; real issues affecting our town.
n NAME and disabled drivers for parking; Are you proud of Swindon?
• the souless – now and probably
What's your viewpoint of the
n REG NO • the Regional Assembly plans for Contribute to a proper debate
Valid until 30 November 2005 another 24,000 houses for Swin- about pride by mailing:
I. — — — — --- a — don; [email protected]
n-- --