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Community News

All change at Thamesdown Transport News in brief

Thamesdown Transport Limited
has been taken over by the major WH Smith’s moving
commercial bus operator Go South WH Smith’s headquarters are set
Coast after councillors agreed to sell for demolition – but the future
the council’s shares in the company. of the company in the town is
The bus company has incurred secure.
losses over the past five years due to Planners have given the
difficult trading conditions, despite go-ahead to build 134 homes, a
continued financial support from nursery and a care home.
the council. And with the council The company, which employs
also facing financial pressures of its 450 senior managers and
own, a review of the bus company consultants at its Greenbridge
concluded that the sale would office, has pledged that it will
be in the best interest of council remain in the town and is
taxpayers, staff and its customers. currently working with Swindon
Go South Coast’s bid was assessed Borough Council and Forward
as offering the best value to the Thamesdown general manager Alex Chutter Swindon to look for a suitable
council. The terms of the offer secures the financial sustainability is to make Thamesdown the bus alternative headquarters
are commercially confidential but of the bus company, offers the best company of choice for Swindon. building in the borough.
included all the council’s shares long-term security for Thamesdown Within the Go Ahead group, local WH Smith, which has been
and the freehold of Thamesdown’s employees, and will provide vital knowledge and management is key, based in the 6,500 sq m office
Barnfield depot. investment. and taking steps like removing the since the 1980s, have been
Cllr David Renard, Leader of Alex Chutter, formerly operations assault screen at the town centre forced to consider the move
Swindon Borough Council, said: manager at Go South Coast’s ticket office and improving the because of the changing nature
“We were one of the few local Salisbury Reds and now general customer approach are key moving of their business and the fact
authorities in the country to still manager at Thamesdown said: “A forward.” that their current offices are
own a local bus company, but the full review of how the company • The deadline for feedback needing repair work.
council is operating in a really operates and what improvements submissions on the proposed
challenging financial climate at the need to be made is underway. The Wichelstowe to town centre Employment is up
moment and we do not have the directors may have changed, but bus corridor is 22 March. New unemployment figures have
resources to continue to support at the moment it’s simply a case of To view the plans and share revealed that 1.3 percent of
Thamesdown Transport as we have steadying this ship. your thoughts with Swindon people are out work in Swindon,
been doing in recent years. “We will be looking at things like Borough Council visit: compared with a national figure
“We believe this deal is in the best the exact fare policy and passenger swindontravelchoices.co.uk/ of 4.8 per cent.
interests of local bus users as it forums to gather feedback. Our aim projects/wichelstowe Since 2010, unemployment
Looking back at a year of celebrating Swindon across the town has fallen
by more than 60% and over
8,400 more people are in work.
Data also shows that annual
wage growth is at 2.6%,
outstripping inflation; while
youth unemployment is down
significantly, the number of
disabled people finding work has
increased and the percentage
of women in employment has
reached a record high.
Employment across the UK has
reached its highest rate since
records began and unemployment
remains at its lowest level for 11
years.
Hate crime increase

Record levels of hate crime were
A vintage car cavalcade at the iconic Magic Roundabout to celebrate Swindon 175 reported in Wiltshire in the three
months following last June’s
Swindon 175 is marking a year of the creation of a wooden bust of at the Great Western Hall at the historic EU referendum, new
celebration with an event on March Sir Daniel Gooch by a New College Steam Museum in Fire Fly Avenue figures have shown.
1 looking back at all that has been student. from 6.30pm to 9pm The data, released this week,
achieved over the year. The event, which will be raising A cash bar is available and there show a total of 134 incidents
The group organised a host of funds for the Brighter Futures will be a complimentary buffet being reported to Wiltshire Police
events to showcase the town, charity, is an opportunity to also available. between July and September – a
celebrating the past, present look to the future and consider Entry is free but places are 38 per cent increase on the
and future, from a children’s how Swindon can continue to limited. For your complimentary previous three month period from
photo competition and classic be celebrated as an industrious, ticket please email: Caroline@ April to June. The figure was the
car cavalcade to the naming of innovative and community focused Swindon175.com highest recorded number since
Sir Daniel Gooch Place by HRH town. Tickets will be issued on a first comparable records began in April
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and The event, on March 1, takes place come, first served basis. 2012.
swindonlink.com n March 2017 7

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