Page 4 - link magazine

4 swindonlink.com • July 2008
Why does Swindon need a directly elected mayor?
Richard King from Shaw reacts to the June article suggesting that Swindon people should get the chance
to vote in a referendum for an elected mayor
Whilst I was born and bred in Swindon and have lived here for most of my 48 years, the majority of my working life has been spent travel-
ling all over Britain.
When people ask me where I'm When I was ahoy Swindon had a but in it has cre- I a poorly performing
from, I take a deep breath because, very distinctive personality, a town ated a soulless council and little
after much experience, I just know of 85,000 souls who either worked urban conurba- political will to sort
what to expect. 'Ah yes the Magic on the Railways or at Pressed Steel. tion which has y it out.
Roundabout' or 'My auntie lives in We had a successful lower league engendered lit- The next big chal-
StrattonStMargaret.'ThebestIget, football team (with a huge follow- tle sense of be- . lengewillcomewhen
from people over 50, is a comment ing) and I genuinely felt that I be- longing partly the huge new devel-
about Swindon's favourite son, the longed to the town and was proud because a large opment is built in the
great Don Rogers. of my heritage, proportion of Front Garden and to
Nobody has ever said, 'Ah yes During the intervening years it the population the east. Swindon is
Swindon, what a fabulous place to has become anything but that. Mas- is transient already gridlocked;
live and work, a town full of culture, sive expansion may have brought and have only I how will our town
,
style and personality.' lots of jobs and some prosperity, settled here be- In'"is Johnson, nov the Mmtor of cope with all the new
cause property London, in Swindon last year people and cars?
is relatively cheap. You only have I passionately believe that Swin-
to drive up the M4 in the morning don needs a real leader; someone
N 1 10 Purton House
^. to realise how many people do not who we can all relate to, look up
[ \o Church End work in the town, to and provide inspiration. Above
Purton, Swindon You may be asking at this point all we need somebody who will
` Tel: 01793 772287 what has any of this got to do be truly responsible directly to the
with whether Swindon needs a electorate, rather than their party.
VEGETABLES • FRUIT • MEAT • EGGS directly elected mayor? My answer
in short is, quite a lot. We have an Your views wanted
Real food from a farm near you underperforming council with an What do you think of having a
Call for details about our anonymous leadership. directly elected mayor who you
Whilst I do accept that there are
could hold to account for the
Organic Box Scheme a number of very good councillors, management of Swindon?
they do not appear to have many
Deliveries & drop off points in Swindon, Cirencester, Wootton Bassett, teeth. You only need to stay in The Link has teamed up with
Broad Hinton, Marlborough, Wroughton Swindon for a short period of time www.talkswindon.org to run
to realise that we are suffering the an opinion survey to find what
support there is in the town. Let
www.purton-house.co.uk usual problems of an urban sprawl: us know your viewpoint.
anti social behaviour, litter, graffiti,
Council looks at being more local
Swindon's cabinet considered a report Connecting People, Connecting
Places in early June.
The aim is to make ward councillors more visible and accountable
in the areas they represent, to give them a more prominent 'place
shaping' role, and to localise delivery of services.
By setting up local meetings residents will be given greater influ-
ence on decision making on services which will be managed on a
more local basis where possible.
Mail [email protected] for a copy.

the Link Magazine

Swindon Publications Ltd.
ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES
71 Basepoint, Rivermead
Call Nicola Norridge on
Swindon SN5 7EX
(01793) 602540 (9am - 3pm)
Tel: (01793) 608840 [email protected]
Fax: (01793) 608841 August bookings by 2 July
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
Publisher/Editor: Roger Ogle
Centre and, in fact, won a competition
Editorial: Tel: (01793) 608840 to name the leisure centre in 1984.
Distribution in North Swindon
Editorial copy date for August:
commenced in January 1994."
7 July
The contents of The Link are protected
Published: 26 July
by copyright. Use of advertisements in
Copy for September: 11 August printed or electronic form is forbidden
unless an advertiser or publisher has
Registered in England & Wales. No: 4513027,
sought permission. Articles and
Registered Office: 130 High Street. Hungerford, Berks.
Printed by pcp, Telford photographs require similar authority
The Link cannot be held responsible for ids or services offered by its advertisers