Page 9 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • February 2008 9

Go for north hotel next to new road BT promise broadband
Swindon Council’s planning committee have passed a proposal for connections by end of February
a 102 bedroom hotel and a restaurant located close to Thamesdown
Drive, next to the A419. After 9 years Taw Hill was at last finally connected to the World Wide
Web in January and BT Openreach has stated that all work on their new
Haydon Wick exchange will be complete by the start of February.
Battle weary customers have broadband connections have been
endured years of slow connections reinstated and they are able to con-
speeds only to lose their broadband nect at higher speeds than before.
altogether during the switch over For now, it appears that for now,
of lines from the Blunsdon to the speeds are capped at 2MB and are
new Haydon Wick exchange off not expected to increase until all
Thamesdown Drive. engineering work is complete.
There was a cautious response A general briefing published at
Hotel among members of the Think- www.openreach.co.uk on 7 January,
site Broadband.com forum which has includes a spreadsheet timetabling
become an online self-help group the remaining work by post code.
for frustrated internet users in There is however, a disclaimer that
Oakhurst and Taw Hill. plans will be subject to change if
Throughout January, people there are unforeseen engineering
have been reporting that their problems.
... but it’s the last post for Lydiard
A new post office in a village on the edge of Swindon is to close, sixteen
months after it relaunched in a new location.
The hotel site next to the A419 by-pass, Motorola and the tennis centre
The original long serving branch in Lydiard Millicent closed in 2003
The plan was held up last year The hotel will be a Days Inn and and the parish council worked to restore the service. Unfortunately,
when the planning committee the restaurant will be a Harvester, the branch which opened at Toomers Garden Centre in Stone Lane in
called for an assessment of the im- with access from Junction 2 on November 2006 has not attracted sufficient custom and the council has
pact of another hotel on the town Thamesdown Drive. decided not to fight the issue
centre regeneration where several Local councillor Justin Tomlin- Tom Pepperall, chair of Lydiard Millicent Parish Council, said that
hotels are planned. son said, “I welcome and support the branch had not been the success they had hoped; possibly due to
The councillors were satisfied these additional facilities for local the lack of a footpath along Stone Lane. “We’ve been in touch with
that more out of town accommo- residents, in particular the demand branches that are in similar situations and even when they have put up
dation would be of benefit to the for the design and build to be in a pretty good defence, the closures have gone ahead. I think there will
area and should not impinge on keeping with the adjacent tennis be a number of people who have used the service at Toomers who will
the town centre. centre.” be sorry to see it go.”

Head RusH HaIR & BeauTY

Beauty by Kerry Hairdressing

• Waxing • Cutting
• Manicures • Colouring - tints
• Facials - foils
• Eye treatments • Perms
• Nail extensions • Extensions
• Indian head • Bridal hair
massage • Prom hair ups
• Make Up • Children
• Hollywood eyelash
extensions 10%
• Palmer Cutler
tanning OFF
Back: Julie Harris & Kerry Tsokos all hair
Front: Gemma McCarthy & Sheralee Crame extensions
FRee Tel: 01793 602552 in February
upper lip wax 73 Basepoint Business Centre
with every
eyebrow wax Rivermead Drive, Westlea, Swindon Going to a wedding
in February
Free parking. Late night Wednesday and Thursday
appointment now
Cash or cheque payments only or prom? Book your

1 - 21 Feb 08.indd 9 18/1/08 09:53:42