Page 8 - link magazine

8 swindonlink.com • November 2008

Tired of juggling Add some Phoenix Keeping communities clear of litter - or not
family and work Shaw and Eastleaze
commitments? magic to your party! One of Swindon Council’s Community Safety Department’s regular
Are you feeling the pressure? Introduce Phoenix Trading’s Safe and Clean Days takes place on 27 November, from 8am.
Do you need balance and a quality, affordable, greeting Council offi cers and waste operatives will be picking up litter and
fl exible lifestyle? cards and stationery to your removing graffi ti. Residents are welcome to join in with this tidy up. For
guests.
Would a regular part time income make Generous discounts off your details call Jane Dudley on 466473 or mail: [email protected]
a difference to your quality of life? own order St Andrews’ Ridge
If you are honest, ethical and hardworking Help and support organising Litter is affl icting the area, particularly around the local centre, and
and have a Managerial, Teaching/Training, your party, plus free invitations Michael Wills MP has called on Swindon Council to ensure a long
Sales/Marketing, HR, Recruitment or Self- Fundraise for your favourite
employed background ... Perhaps you have cause awaited management company is formed soon to take responsibility
retired or taken a career break to raise a for keeping it neat and tidy.
family, then we would like to hear from you. Please contact me for a brochure or A Swindon spokesperson said the St Andrews’ Ridge local centre is
Call PAUL on to book a Phoenix party: private property so the council’s responsibility is limited, but the coun-
01993 846372 or 07967 009561 Jacqueline Rawlings cil’s litter picking team visits the residential areas regularly to remove
Life is for living! Independent Phoenix Trader 17743 rubbish.
01793 722386
Are you living the life you want?
Swindon Advertiser takes the lead
from The Link about elected mayor

The Link’s campaign with talkswindon.org to give Swindon voters
the chance to express their view on whether to have an elected mayor
- denied to them in 2001 - found its way into the council chamber on
25 September when LibDem councillor Stan Pajak put down a motion
calling on the council to consider organising a referendum.
However the combined forces of leader and we reported that 56 per
the Conservative and Labour coun- cent of people surveyed by Swindon
cillors rejected the notion of giving Council had supported the idea, but
people the chance to take part in a the council buried it.
referendum to decide whether a The Link has publicised the is-
leader elected by voters was prefer- sue since June as there is clearly
able to a leader decided by the party unfi nished business for Swindon
in control of the council. people. Articles since have been
As a result of September’s debate accompanied by a lively debate at
in the council chamber the Advertiser talkswindon.org where there is an
ran a week of stories and an opinion online survey and a petition calling
survey during Local Democracy for a referendum to take place. Back-
Week, 13 to 19 October. ground articles can also be found at
Political reporter James Wallin www.swindonlink.com
said the paper felt it important to Geoff Reid of talkswindon.org
raise the subject with a wider audi- said, “our local councillors have
ence. “Whilst they are not willing to yet to explain, or even discuss, why
organise a referendum, the politi- they ignored the wishes of Swindon
cians keep saying they want to hear voters in 2001. Electing the council
from the voters of Swindon about leader is a live issue but local party
the issue of an elected leader. So politicians are afraid that their grip
we’re keen to complement what The on council power might be prised
Link and talkswindon.org have been from them and ordinary people be
doing, explain both sides of the issue given a direct say.”
and give people across the town The result of the Advertiser survey
their chance to speak out.” was due to be announced on 20 Octo-
In April the Institute of Public ber with follow up articles expected,
Policy Research published a review after The Link went to press.
of the work of elected mayors Coun Pajak welcomed the wider
since local government legislation debate after his effort in the council
required councils to hold consulta- chamber was brushed aside. “I
tions on whether people wanted welcome the exposure that differ-
elected leaders in their areas. In ent media are giving the subject.
2001 The Link was the only Swindon Greater awareness and more en-
media to highlight the opportuni- gagement in the politics of our town
ties presented by having an elected will benefi t local democracy.”

Online communities link to each other
Two of Swindon’s most popular internet forums are working together to offer
online opportunities to debate, express views and post information.
talkswindon.org is now hosting Swindontalk.org after it suddenly
disappeared in July. Geoff Reid, founding member of Talkswindon said
there is a place for both forums. “They might have similar names but
are very different in content and focus, so they complement rather than
compete with each other. Talkswindon members tend to debate politi-
cal and philosophical topics - issues like the directly elected leader and
the identity card - whereas Swindontalk has a lighter and more social
atmosphere to it.”
www.talkswindon.org www.Swindontalk.org

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