Page 33 - link magazine

The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com 33

Police reorganise into neighbourhood teams
New legislation requires police forces to set up Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) by April 2008.
Wiltshire Police aims to have to find what NPTs are all about. Councillors from Swindon bor- number above or mail:
their NPTs in place by April 2007 The main issues raised were ough and Haydon Wick and [email protected]
and has been organising meetings group anti-social behaviour, graf- Blunsdon parishes were critical of Moredon NPT Police Surgery:
across Swindon to explain the role fiti and damage to public prop- the poor publicity for the meeting. 2 April, 7pm, at Moredon and
of the new teams and to introduce erty. There were also concerns PC Troy Smith accepted more Rodbourne Cheney Library.
the staff to residents. raised about car crime and the use has to be done to promote aware-
Four residents and five council- of mini motos. ness of NPTs and the team is plan- Neighbourhood
lors turned up to a community Greater visibility of police on ning newsletters, internet blogs policing in the West
consultation meeting at Abbey the beat will be a key feature of the and briefings through The Link. An NPT covering Toothill, Westlea,
Meads Primary School on 14 March NPTs. “Although the number attending Freshbrook & Grange Park was
was low, the input was invalu- formed in February.
Croquet club celebrates able,” he said.
A resident raised the confusion On Monday 16 April, 7pm, a public
Swindon Croquet Club starts its over which telephone number to meeting will take place at the De
21st season on 7 and 8 April. call the police on. For emergencies Vere Hotel, Shaw Ridge to discuss
New members of all ages are where threats are involved or wit- the NPT for Shaw, Nine Elms,
invited to open evenings on Tues- nessing crime, call 999. Peatmoor, Sparcells, The Prinnells.
days and Wednesdays, 5.30pm, at For anti-social behaviour and to
Moredon Playing Fields, opposite make contact with NPT officers,
Manor Garden Centre. call 0845 408 7000. D & L Blinds
A six week beginners’ course NPTs officers covering the North
starts on 15 May. Sector of Swindon: Rollers • Verticals • Venetians
For details about the club and to Pleated Blinds • VELUX ®
sign up for the course, call John Haydon Wick, including Green-
meadow area: PC Chloe Smith and
Airey on 873026. Conservatory Blinds
PCSO Lee Hare;
Swindon Croquet Club took their indoor QUALITY BLINDS AT
pitch to the RNID day for children with The Northern Expansion, cover- AFFORDABLE PRICES
disabilities in mid-March at Link Cen- ing Priory Vale, Taw Hill, St An- Fast and reliable service
tre. Member Dianne Trott and Green- drews Ridge and Abbey Meads: Evenings & weekends no problem
down pupil Jordan Fitchett help Westlea led by PC Troy Smith and PCSO
pupil Saeed Majed weild a mallet Dave Gallagher; All blinds fitted free
Moredon, including Woodhall Choose from a wide range
Park, led by PC Andrew Carr, sup- of fabrics from the comfort
Listeners make life easier for MS sufferers ported by PC Yvonne Ridge and of your own home
Users of the Swindon MS Therapy Centre diving chamber in Cheney two PCSO’s Emma Cooper and Contact Paul on 01793 619428
Manor are now enjoying a better environment to receive oxygen Tracy Jones, has been in place since FREE QUOTES NO OBLIGATION
therapy thanks to the GWR Christmas Appeal. October. To contact them, call the
A grant for £750 has been spent January which cost just over £2,000,
on new brighter lights, fans to so we are extremely grateful to the
make the chamber more comfort- GWR Appeal for the grant towards
able in hot weather and CCTV to this much needed work.”
improve safety by monitoring us- She added that the MS Centre
ers inside. does not receive any NHS funding
Centre manager Jackie Wray and all operational money has to
said, “as well as the upgrades the be raised by volunteers and
chamber had its annual service in through donations.
Ready to go under pressure in the diving chamber, MS sufferers from left, Gwen
Twist, Barry Palmer, Grace Carey

Teams wanted for charity quiz night
Sunday 13 May, 7.15pm, De Vere Hotel
In aid of Swindon MS Therapy Centre
To enter teams of eight at £2 per head, call the centre on 481700
or quiz master David Hughes on 772382
or mail: [email protected]
If you don’t have a team but want to put your general knowledge to good
use, contact David and he will put you in touch with others taking part

21 April 07 33 16/3/07, 3:08 pm