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Community News

The Spirit of Swindon and rising to one of the biggest challenges facing the UK

By Tom Wilkes of higher. It has narrowed a little There is no quick fix to address
Spirit of Swindon since then but the more affluent economic inequality and dealing
First the bad news: the gap have, on average, seven times that with its impact. Its causes and
between the richest and the of the less wealthy. In Japan and solutions are complex and debated.
poorest in a country damages the Scandinavian countries it is Yet that does not mean there
everyone. around four times. In the UK we is nothing we can do. Over the
It is not just those at the bottom, have now levels of inequality of coming months Spirit of Swindon
the gap damages those at the wealth not experienced for 100 will look at some of the issues,
top, too. People living in countries years and the gap has particularly sharing stories, and giving every
which are less equal in economic widened over the last four decades. Link reader an opportunity to
terms do worse across a range of Income and economic inequality become involved in being part of a
social and health-related issues is present in every town and change most of us want to see. Wilkinson & Kate Pickett is
than countries which are similar impacts every single person. This will start from having very significant. Go to www.bit.
but more equal. Rates of divorce, The good news for us in Swindon confidence as people who live in ly/2fFp9jo or www.bit.ly/1EOmngh
mental illness, alcohol and drug is that we look better placed than Swindon that we can bring about for info.
addiction, life expectancy and most to do something about it. change – not by complaining and There are people in Swindon
crime are all increased. The poorest One reason for this is our strong blaming, but recognising everyone who are choosing between eating
may suffer the most but economic economic base. We have relatively has a part to play. Is that true of a meal and having the central
inequality also afflicts the affluent. high levels of employment and you? Our individual part may be heating on – fuel or food. Buying
Everybody is affected either a broad range of businesses, relatively small but together the something to contribute to the
directly or indirectly. including major companies and impact could be significant. This is collection for a foodbank at your
So what about the UK? In a organisations. not about party politics or grand local supermarket might be that
world ranking of developed nations The second reason is the strength strategy – it is about seeing what ‘one thing’ which helps them.
where do we stand in terms of the of our community networks and emerges when we each realise that You may well have better ideas.
gap between the richest and the the spirit it embodies. Across changing the future starts small Please email them to publisher@
poorest in society? Uncomfortably Swindon there is a multitude of and starts with me. swindonlink.com with ‘Spirit of
for us it turns out that the UK is groups supporting and serving Each month there will be one Swindon’ as the subject.
among the most unequal developed their local communities; there is thing you could do to make a Spirit of Swindon has emerged
countries. When the gap between a long tradition of looking out for difference with some possibilities. from a gathering of people who
the 20 per cent poorest and 20 per one another and those who are We start here with the ‘one want to raise consciousness of the
cent most wealthy were compared facing difficulties. It is the spirit of thing’ of finding out more about impact of economic inequality and
in 2011 we were the third worst; being good neighbours – including the impact of inequality. A book help Swindon offer a lead to other
only Portugal and the USA ranked people we have never met. called The Spirit Level by Richard towns and cities in the UK.

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Clearance work continued along Hay Lane during November
Works to construct the entrances Council in partnership with www.visionvisit.co.uk 01793 232 588
for the site compound and clear Highways England and Wiltshire
the treeline close to Junction 16 Council.
have been ongoing on the B4005 The plans see the introduction
Hay Lane during November, ahead of a dedicated right turn from
of major works taking place in the Swindon Road to Hay Lane.
coming months. Upgrades to Junction 15 will
The motorway junction redesign begin upon completion of the J16
is a requirement of the outline works, as part of Swindon Borough
planning permission for the major Council’s drive to improve key
housing development at nearby highway interchanges ahead of the Would you like to save time, worry . . . and money?
Wichelstowe and needs to be Wichelstowe and Eastern Villages We can handle your self-assessment tax return for you.
complete before the 1,100th expansions.
property on the site is occupied. All slip roads leading from the Our fees are fixed and we will do all the necessary
The work is being funded by a M4 to the Junction 15 roundabout calculations, complete your return and even offer advice
central goverment grant, Swindon will be widened as will the A346 on how you can potentially reduce your tax bill.
and Wiltshire Local Enterprise approach to the junction from Tel: 07818 565 305
Partnership (LEP) and Wichelstowe Marlborough.
Joint Venture, and is being For updates visit: [email protected]
delivered by Swindon Borough www.swindon.gov.uk/junction16 www.mypersonaltaxassistant.co.uk
swindonlink.com n December 2016 5

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