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4 www.swindonlink.com - 10 years
Choice of school to continue, but parents may have to pay

The West Swindon Forum on 12 November heard that Swindon Council’s proposal to cut free transport to schools outside the area from Sep-
tember 2009 would not affect parental choice, but they would have to take on the financial responsibility for getting their children there.
The council carried out a consul- continue. All parents with children concerned about the increased dan- He added that many parents
tation exercise to 23 November on presently in West Swindon primary gers for children who are presently across the town arrange their own
whether free buses to Bradon Forest schools were sent information on transported door to door. transport for schools outside their
School in Purton and The Ridge- the options being considered. The Coun Gary Perkins, cabinet designated area.
way School in Wroughton should document explained that by 2012 member for education, said parents’ A saving of £.5 million was pre-
Greendown School in Grange Park, right of school choice was not an dicted from ending free transport,
the council’s designated secondary issue. “Swindon is the seventeenth to be reallocated within the educa-
Costa BlanCa - spain school in West Swindon will have worst funded education authority tion budget.
Holiday Home For Rental nearly 500 surplus places. in the country and we have to look at Greendown headteacher Clive
• Sleeps 6 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms The forum was the only public how scarce resources are spent. Zimmerman told the meeting that
(1 master suite with double bathroom opportunity for parents to talk “The council can now provide in the last five years there had only
and jacuzzi bath) about the issues with ward council- enough places for West Swindon been two safety incidents, both in-
• Rooftop solarium and shared
communal pool lors and officers. Only a few parents children in Swindon schools. We volving children on bicycles.
• Supermarket within 5 minutes walking took the opportunity to express cannot allow one of our schools Bradon Forest headteacher Len
distance, pubs & restaurants within their concerns, in a muted, polite to be half empty whilst spending Spiers said that if discretionary
10 minutes walking distance, blue flag discussion. money on buses.” transport was ended his school
beaches within 10 minutes drive
• 20 minutes transfer time from either Vicki Harper from Shaw won- would organise buses at the lowest
Alicante or Murcia airports dered if parents were being given possible cost to parents.
Rates from enough information to make a • Greendown takes on challenge.
£150 p/w decision. Mohan Balasubramania See page 16
(low season) from Westlea was worried about
tel: phil on the increase in traffic congestion if Left, September’s West Swindon
01793 parents decide to drive children to Forum discussed the flooding of
700170 Purton had been considered. George Tweed Gardens group dwell-
for details ing in Shaw during July’s deluge.
Linda Stevens from Shaw was
Work started in November to clear
out Roughmoor Brook to improve the
Open daily from Saturday 24 november flow of storm water
Get real for Christmas
Southleaze For a traditional Christmas atmosphere, nothing beats a real tree, halls

Christmas Trees decked with holly and mistletoe and a log fire. Everything needed to
set the scene can be found at Common Farm, Wroughton.
Farmer, Stuart Bell, has been
Real trees are still as popular
now at selling trees in Swindon for 19 as ever and the Nordman variety
years, from Southleaze Farm un- promising minimal needle drop is
Common Farm til last year when Front Garden a best seller.
Once the perfect tree has been
developments prompted a move
to Common Farm. The new venue chosen it can be trimmed to fit a
West Swindon’s supplier has a better access road and there stand before being netted up for
are more animals to see, including the journey home, but if it still
pigs, sheep and horses. won’t fit in the car, there is a free
The widest range “A lot of families come to chose delivery service.
of Christmas trees their tree and say it’s their Christ- Once the festivities are over the
mas tradition,” said Stuart. “I’ve tree can be collected for recycling
at the best prices seen kids grow up from toddlers for a small charge. For directions,
see advert left.
to adults since we started.”
Ring to reserve
Free your tree or just visit
delivery
Open daily 10am - 6pm
Swindon Publications Ltd. advertising enquiries
Tel: 812322 71 Basepoint, Rivermead Call Nicola Norridge on
Swindon SN5 7EX
COmmOn FaRm, Tel: (01793) 608840 (01793) 602540 (9am-3pm)
[email protected]
WROughTOn Fax: (01793) 608841 January bookings by 5 December
email: [email protected] e: [email protected] “The Link was first published for the West
www.swindonlink.com Swindon community in December 1978.
It is completely independent of Link
WEst olD Publisher/Editor: Roger Ogle
sWinDon toWn Centre and, in fact, won a competition
GREAT WESTERN WAY Editorial: Tel: (01793) 608840 to name the leisure centre in 1984.
16 BLAGROVE MILL LANE Editorial copy date for January: Distribution in North Swindon
commenced in January 1994.”
10 December
HAY LANE
BlooMs The contents of The Link are protected
CROFT ROAD
M4 Copy for February: 7 January
WHARF ROAD Published: 1 January by copyright. Use of advertisements in
Prices from £8 WE aRE HERE WRoUGHton Registered in England & Wales. No: 4513027. printed or electronic form is forbidden
unless an advertiser or publisher has
Registered Office: 130 High Street, Hungerford, Berks. sought permission. Articles and
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after Christmas collection and recycling service available The Link cannot be held responsible for goods or services offered by its advertisers

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