Page 9 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • February 2006 9
Beaumaris Road to be sorted out
After years of complaint, a solution for the road outside Oliver
Tomkins Infant and Junior School in Toothill is near.
Parents are worried for children stopping lines on either side, on
crossing Beaumaris Road to school the bend of Beaumaris Road, close
and residents complain about the to the vehicle entrance to the
congestion caused by parents who school;
insist on driving to the schools as 2. chicanes on either side of the
well as high speeds at other times, crossing point. Initially this would
The road became a major traffic be a temporary barriers which
route after Swindon Council in- could be moved around as the ef-
stalled speed humps on nearby fect on traffic volume and speeds,
Freshbrook Way in response to is assessed;
several accidents. 3. in the longer term, making
The site was discussed at Octo- Rowton Heath Way from the
ber's West Area Forum and coun- Gainsborough Way roundabout
cil highways officer Adrian Dean and Beaumaris Road a 20mph
returned to the meeting on 9 Janu- zone. This will require physical
ary to discuss safety proposals. changes to the road to slow traffic.
Residents at both meetings were Subject to councillor approval,
also angry about speeds on Rowton the chicanes should be in place by
Heath Way and the blind bend at half term in mid-Februar , the ze-
y
the bottom o the hill. bra crossing could be built by the
Following the meeting Mr Dean summer holidays and a 20mph
said a three stage scheme was be- zone would have to be discussed
ing worked on:
in more detail with residents, other
1. a zebra crossing with zig zag no road users and the police.
Mutual understanding results in respect
Until a few months ago Paul Henley, 17, from Toothill was told by the
police that he was in line for an Anti-Social Behaviour Order or
perhaps a custodial sentence after several arrests for fighting and
abuse over the previous two years.
But Paul has changed his ways. He said,"I was doing graffiti, getting
into lots of fights. But I've given that up, got a bricklaying job and it's
much better that the police are not on to me anymore.
"I'd tell other young people it's not worth it to get out of line."
Toothill PC Pedro Wilson said he was impressed by Paul's approach
nowadays. "We had our problems, but Paul is a reformed character and we
get on well together. I congratulate him for looking at things differently."
Good friends,Pau1 Hcnh'u with PCs Paul Matthews and Pedro Wilson

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Crime detection up and down
Inspector Willie Glasgow for Swindon police reports a generally improv-
ing picture of crime detection in West Swindon.
In Freshbrook/G range Park, detection has risen from 23% to 27%,
largely due to PC Paul Matthews arresting graffiti vandals.
But in Toothill/Westlea detection has dropped back from 32% to
28.5%. The most impressive change is in the Shaw/Nine Elms/ Peatmoor
area where detection is up from 18% to 27%.
In North Swindon detection in Abbey Meads has risen from 23% to
28% and in Haydon Wick from 15% to 21 %.
Inspector Glasgow said the true picture for crime and detection for the
last year will be revealed in April.
New police number
For non-emergency calls Wiltshire Police should now be contacted
using 0845 408 7000.