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Community News

Defibrillator unveiled for Blunsdon Abbey community

A life saving defibrillator – which
can be used to revive patients
whose hearts have stopped –
has been bought for use by the
Blunsdon Abbey and wider St
Andrew’s Ridge community.
Blunsdon Abbey Park is a
residential community of over-
50s residents in North Swindon
managed by family-run company
Park Home Life. The company has
bought the new defibrillator on
behalf of the local community.
“We put in a lot of research
into the different options
available to us, but rather than
ask our residents to contribute or
fundraise, we opted to purchase
the equipment ourselves”, said Jane
Kirk from Park Home Life.
“We know how valuable this
apparatus can be in saving lives,
and now having one for the whole
community is fantastic.” Jasmine Corrigan (L) and Jane Kirk (R) with the new Blunsdon Abbey defibrillator equipment.
Jane’s colleague Jasmine Corrigan
added: “This is the first defibrillator Blunsdon Abbey’s Park Office unit can be accessed by a unique essential piece of equipment. It not
sited at our residential parks and was chosen as an easily accessible code known to the residents or only gives both voice and written
we will look to continue the roll- location for the defibrillator, obtained by an emergency call to instructions, but also has a built-in
out across our other park locations available 24 hours a day. The the 999 service. safety mechanism to act on the
so all our residents can benefit defibrillator is fully automatic Blunsdon Abbey resident Linda rhythm of the heart.
from the potentially life saving and is housed in a temperature Deacon said: “The defibrillator “I really hope I never have to use
equipment.” controlled, illuminated cabinet. The sited at Blunsdon Abbey Park is an it, but if I did, it could save a life.”

Stagecoach expands town bus network and boosts jobs

Bus operator Stagecoach West is linking the Orbital Centre, Abbey
to expand its network in Swindon Meads, Moredon, Cheney Manor,
which will deliver even better Designer Outlet, town centre, New
services for customers and provide a College, Walcot East, Park and Great
jobs boost for the town. Western Hospital. The service will
From 2 April, the company plans operate up to every ten minutes
to launch a new route between during the day from Monday
Abbey Meads and Great Western to Saturday and up to every 20
Hospital, via the town centre, minutes on Sunday.
as well as delivering a series of Number 9 (town centre –
improvements to existing services. Wichelstowe – Wroughton) will
As a result of the network see a new Sunday service operating
expansion, which will increase every hour during the daytime.
Stagecoach’s local operations by Number 10 (Kingsdown – town
15%, the company is creating 30 centre – Freshbrook) will see some
new jobs at its Swindon depot, peak time journeys on Mondays to
including driver, engineering, Fridays extended from Freshbrook to
cleaning and other roles. Windmill Hill Business Park. These
The move, which reflects the journeys partially replace service 27
company’s commitment to Swindon, Services 9, 10 and Gold 66. introduced 12 new vehicles, at a which was recently withdrawn by
is in response to customer demand Rupert Cox, managing director cost of £2.2 million in the past three Thamesdown Transport.
for more choice in bus transport in of Stagecoach West, said: years for local people. Number 66 (Swindon – Faringdon
the town. “This expansion is a sign of our “These plans will deliver better – Oxford) will see the Monday to
The brand new Service 3 will offer commitment to bus passengers connections and greater travel Friday frequency increase to every
different connections to current in the area and in the belief that choice for customers and we believe 20 minutes during the daytime.
routes, creating new journey buses will continue to be a hugely they will help us attract even more This increase will complement the
opportunities for local people, with important mode of transport in the people on to our greener, smarter existing 20 minute frequency on
buses up to every 10 minutes. years to come. services.” Saturdays and 30 minute frequency
Stagecoach is also delivering “We have seen positive growth The new route and other on Sundays.
improved frequencies, additional on our current services and have improvements are: For more details on Stagecoach
services and adding new locations invested significantly in a new Number 3 (Abbey Meads – town bus services visit www.
to existing routes, including bus depot last year. We have also centre – Great Western Hospital stagecoachbus.com
swindonlink.com n March 2017 11

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