Page 47 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • November 2010 47
Abbey Meads park being destroyed by vandals Make your house a hoMe
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After the October Link story about the destruction of the brand new playpark on Shaw Ridge, Abbey Willing
Meads resident Jane Burbage, contacted us about the gradual deterioration of the play equipment on the
hill below Warrener Close which has sustained increasing amounts of wilful damage and vandalism, & Able
including equipment being set alight and white gloss paint being tipped over safety surfaces.
ProPerty ServiceS
Jane Burbage, who regularly • Plumbing and heating
visits the park with her grandchil- • Landlord safety checks & system upgrades
dren, said she’s at her wits’ end. “I • Unvented hot water storage systems
just find it very sad that there is a • Power flushing and water softeners
minority of people who think it’s • Plastering and rendering
fine to live knee deep in litter and • All interior & exterior maintenance
work undertaken
dog poo, and who can do so much to All work planned, scheduled & guaranteed
spoil things for the majority. I speak For friendly advice call
to lots of young mums, dog-walkers
and other residents, who are all 01793 324026 or
saddened by what is happening to 07533 749104
a lovely play facility.” www.landlordcertificateswindon.co.uk
She thinks it is because the area is
not directly overlooked by housing
and vandals believe they can get
away with damage. “By contrast
the play areas near the schools at
Redhouse are supervised to some
degree because people can see
Jane with her grandchildren in areas of the playpark damaged by fire
what’s happening in them as they
• All aspects of Heating
walk by. The lesson to be learned newts and a preserved chestnut tree With Swindon Council making
and Plumbing undertaken
is that future parks should not be close by. Now there are supermarket deep budget cuts, Jane is afraid that
• Boiler and central heating
built in remote places. trollies dumped in the pond, benches the area will be left in ruins, and
installations and repairs
“What we started with was a very and play equipment that have had to that the open space will no longer
• Gas safety certificates
classy landscaped area after enor- be dismantled, and signs of damage be a suitable recreational area for
• Bathroom design & installation
mous groundworks, a pond with to the bark of the tree.” residents and their children.
• General repairs and
• Swindon Council’s appeal to the servicing
School rebuilding pond to study government to be allowed to revamp • No VAT on labour
old play areas has been successful
Brook Field Primary School in Shaw has started an ambitious project with £403,000 of £550,000 clawed For reliability and value for
money call Simon on:
to bring a disused pond back to life. back in May being returned to con- 07798 684215 or 01793 829526
With expert advice from Bristol consultancy RPS Planning and De- tinue the programme.
velopment, the school plans to recreate an environmental classroom.
Fundraising for materials is going on at present. Headteacher Melanie
Sancto, below, raised £350 by taking part in a parachute jump during the
summer. She enjoyed it so much that she’s thinking of taking it up as a hobby.
UNITS 19-20 KENDRICK INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
SWINDON WILTS SN2 2DU
TEL: 01793 536784

SANSUM SAND & GRAVEL SUPPLY TO ThE
GENERAL PUbLIC AND TRADE CUSTOMERS

Is there anybody out there? bRICKS,
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) CONCRETE bLOCKS,
‘Talking Science’ public lecture at Swindon Town (STFC)
in the Legends Lounge at the County Ground. CELCON bLOCKS,
Thursday 25 November, 6pm, ‘Astrobiology: The search for alien life’ bLOCK PAVING,
with Dr Lewis Dartnell of University College London.
Free, but places must be booked by calling 442 092 PATIO SLAbS, SAND,
GRAVEL, TOP SOIL, bARK,
Climate Change Question Time
Friday 12 November, 7.15pm, Commonweal School CANTAbURY SPAR,
The Mall, Old Town, Swindon. Free. LANDSCAPE FAbRIC,
Is this the Greenest Government ever?
Do we have the Greenest Swindon ever? DRAINAGE ChANNELS,
On the panel - Swindon’s two MPs, Robert Buckland and Justin Tomlinson, Swin- bUILDING ChEMICALS,
don Borough Council cabinet member Peter Greenhalgh, and a representative
from the Stop Climate Chaos coalition. ROCK SALT AND CEMENT
Organised by Swindon Climate Action Network in association with Oxfam. Ques- www.sansums.co.uk
tions can be submitted on the night, or in advance: [email protected]

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