Swindon Town risks losing match support

The new prices will see season tickets for next season rise to £350 for an adult and £280 for a concession. Fair enough, the price for success will always come at a cost to the supporter, but how can Mr Watkins justify such an increase in the 48 per cent hike in concessionary tickets when most recipients of these are on a fixed income in the middle of one of the worst economic downturns in living memory?

Not only that, but he has brought forward the deadline for buying season tickets to the end of March; significantly early for most supporters who want to at least be allowed to enjoy the moment and who have the added expense of Wembley JTP final tickets to find. And don’t forget, we still don’t even get a Carling Cup ticket for free any more!

The added sting to the tail is that those existing season ticket holders who choose not to pay by instalments (and those of an older generation may prefer not to use this method because they would rather not be in debt to anyone) will have to pay another £30 increase on top of the inflated prices, making the cost of adult and concession tickets £380 and £280 respectively.

Additionally, every season ticket that is bought with a credit card will be subject to a fee of £5 per season ticket purchased.

Granted, it’s slightly cheaper in the Town End, but who wants to buy a seat there when you have to stand to see the game, due to fans standing throughout the entire proceedings?

I have spoken to several long-term season ticket holders. Each and every one has said that they will think very hard before committing themselves to buying a season ticket for next season.

John Beale Wigmore Avenue Swindon

Winners, losers

I WISH to comment on Steve Thompson’s letter of February 10 2012. In this he says the English are lazy.

I hope he does not mean me. I was a driver and my load on the lorry was 360 18”x9”x9” concrete blocks – no forklift, hands only.

Mr Ing says who won World Wars I and II? The English, I think – we were on the winning side. The politicians have since lost us the peace, sticking their noses into other people’s affairs and getting our service folk killed in the process.

I also wish to bring up my views on World War II regarding the report on Saturday, January 28, headlined ‘Crows gather to mark holocaust memorial day’.

I had friends that were in the forces who risked their lives to help Hitler’s victims get out of the camp, only to be killed and injured in Palestine in 1946/1947/1948.

This fact should be pointed out to our young men and women who have no chance of work and who think that the forces are worth applying for.

I believe there will always be people like Balfour or Tony Blair who are willing to get our service men and women killed in action that does not concern this country.

AR Thripthorpe Elizabeth House Queens Drive Swindon

Army reunion

The hunt is on to find all former members of the Royal Berkshire Regiment to attend the Grand Annual Reunion Weekend on July 21-22, 2012, at Brock Barracks, Reading.

I am in touch with 300 ex Royal Berkshire Regiment men living around the UK, some have already booked so come along before it is too late to meet your old Army mates.

Former members of the DERR.GLOSTERS.and WILTSHIRE REGIMENT are welcome.

For further details, contact Stan Knipe on 01452 728823 or stanknipe39@talktalk.net Stan Knipe Quedgeley Gloucester

Green or brown?

Des Morgan in his letter reminds us that the Princes Street car park is to become a green open space as part of improvements around the Wyvern Theatre.

I can’t help but feel that this green open space would rapidly deteriorate into a brown open muddy space hosting the playing of football and drinking of alcoholic beverages – Wharf Green comes to mind in this respect.

There might be trees that would be soon vandalised and never replaced, and beds containing a few euonymus and berberis swathed about with plastic decorations and other litter.

This area, given the locality and present use, is truly a brown-field site. This is the kind of site that should be chosen for the development that Kevin McCloud’s company wishes to put on Pickards Small Field and the park where I walk my dog. Mr McCloud’s pretty, ecologically-sound houses would enhance any piece of waste land such as this one. The projected development would only blight the marvellous woods and potential new woods near Gorse Hill: truly a blot on the landscape.

Why not let the local community have the allotments in order to fulfil its potential?

Mary Farragher Norman Road Swindon

More ap-pealing

I WOULD like to respond to Mr Digger’s letter regarding the article about our new business, which opened last week in Royal Wootton Bassett.

Our aim at Maddisons is to source local goods or through local companies wherever possible, so buying fruit that cannot be grown in England through Bristol buyers we hope captures that ethos.

Unfortunately, the lovely photos that were taken of the shop and the large crowd we attracted stacked with local produce were not printed, but this picture taken at 5pm with all that was left from the first day’s trading was instead.

We are not complaining though, as the Adver has been so supportive of us, as has the Wootton Bassett community.

Tracey Roberts Maddisons grocers Royal Wootton Bassett

Point of order

I would like to reply to Mr D Bye’s letter (Adver, March 7) regarding Highworth Rec Centre, to correct one or two inaccuracies.

The management trustees have not been replaced by the new management committee. The Rec was formerly operated jointly by the trustees and Swindon Borough Council.

Under the new arrangements, Highworth Town Council has joined the management committee in a new management board which is an undertaking between Swindon Borough Council, Highworth Town Council and the trustees together.

Under the old management, Highworth Town Council had no involvement in the running of the Rec and was not involved in the refurbishment of the pool or the installation of the roof over the pool, which was where the debts were incurred.

The contribution by Highworth Town Council of £50,000 annually, agreed under the new arrangement to secure the Rec’s future, has not resulted in any increase in contributions by Highworth Council tax payers as the money is being found from savings internally.

David Lane Clerk to Highworth Town Council

Kids let down

I have sympathy with your letters contributor David Sweet when in a recent edition of your paper he expressed a fear for the futures of his grandchildren.

Indeed, why did the last Labour government open our borders to allow in all and sundry to fill jobs that our youngsters could have been trained to do? The last Labour government was obsessed with Human Rights – indeed they implemented the Human Rights Act in to our constitution.

Now, under that act, there must be a case to answer for the abandonment of our young by that government.

After all we have, since the arrival of the Human Rights Act, seen hideous compensation payouts for the most spurious of claims, even compensating illegal immigrants.

There must surely be a barrister, solicitor or someone within the legal fraternity to take up the cause (though retrospectively) of bringing to light the way that our young were disgustingly let down by the last Labour government.

C J Meek Cloche Way Upper Stratton Swindon

Protect horses

We are writing regarding the often cruel practice of the tethering of horses, ponies and donkeys.

Very often these animals are seen tethered on the sides of roads or in fields – often without water during the hot sunny days and without food or shelter during rain, snow or severe cold weather. Most of the calls that we receive are from members of the public concerned about tethered horses.

With the support of various animal sanctuaries across the country we are petitioning the Government to ban this abhorrent practice.

We have compiled a report showing the terrible suffering these animals endure. For anyone wanting to help stop the tethering of horses, we can be contacted at: Remus Memorial Horse Sanctuary Little Farm Buttsbury Road Buttsbury Essex CM4 9NZ