We know the roads but who’s listening?

He said that “local people are best placed to know the roads” and it was “important that they raise concerns where they exist as prevention is better than cure”.

He was keen that local people took time “to highlight problems in their area”. Wise words and who better to say them than a member of our police force, formally entrusted with the lives of so many on all of our roads.

More than 200 people formally objected to the plans for a school on the Croft site, many citing poor and dangerous access as a major issue. More than 450 people have signed petitions to date rejecting the Croft decision, based on a lack of confidence in the process undertaken.

Despite repeatedly taking time to highlight problems, with accompanying photographic evidence of the reality of the area, I remain deeply concerned that the facts raised by many local people who, in Inspector Bull’s words, are “best placed to know the roads”, weren’t properly heard when planning permission was initially granted.

Am I wrong or does it appear that the views of two highways officers and their chosen firm (a beneficiary of the project proceeding) have completely outweighed all others to date, including our own MP and three firms of experts?

Were the planning committee given sufficiently robust data by officers on which to make such an important decision? Is anyone honestly confident that the decision was based on a 420 pupil school operating at capacity with the hundreds of cars, pedestrians and cyclists predicted?

Or has planning been granted on the basis of a phased opening with a watch and see policy?

Having personally yet again highlighted a number of examples of, at best, misleading pieces of information, I live in hope that one day I will receive straightforward, real answers that make sense, not responses that shy away from the facts.

C Bent Marlborough Lane Swindon

Library’s not due

Can I really believe it, as hundreds of local councils up and down this country are closing libraries to save money, I see from the latest information that Swindon might be getting a new library.

If so they should be concentrating on redeveloping the old college site at Regent Circus and not wasting money on a new library, which I understand was built just recently.

J Price Slade Drive Swindon

Whale wishers

I would like to thank all the people who kindly gave a donation to Campaign Whale at our stall in the town centre, on Saturday, March 10. The amount raised came to £58.16.

Campaign Whale is an influential, non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises and their habitats. If anyone would like more information they can contact us at PO Box 2673, Lewes, East Sussex BN8 5BZ UK or call 0127 3471403.

Marilyn Harrison Toothill Swindon

No... apostrophe’s

There is a pub near my house that advertises Sunday dinner’s, a tattoo establishment in Rodbourne that advertises tattoo’s and a fruit and vegetable trader in Cricklade Road that advertises egg’s.

Do these traders have customer’s or customers?

C J Meek Cloche Way Swindon

Spare the daffodils

Now the daffodils are out again, can I ask parents not to encourage their children to pick them?

Last year I asked a young man to stop his little girl picking them as we all like to see them and his reply was “well, look at them”, which was difficult as she had picked 90 per cent of them. They went on their way pushing a pushchair loaded with daffodils falling out of two carrier bags and a girl with an armful.

The year before, a lady helped her little girl pick armfuls before she could be stopped.

The daffodils are planted to give everyone pleasure, so please leave them alone. Thank you to the gardeners who put them there in the first place.

L Spencer Swindon

Trade differences

In his discussions with President Obama, David Cameron may touch upon the respective domestic economics of Britain and the USA, but in the USA unemployment is falling whereas in Britain it is still increasing.

Of course, in the USA government trade and tariffs are set to the sole benefit of the US economy whereas here Mr Cameron’s coalition is hamstrung in trade and tariffs by being subject to the regulations imposed upon Britain by the Brussels bureaucracy.

N Gardner Carlisle Avenue Swindon

Save the Locarno

I have just received notification from the council regarding the Locarno. An application (S/LBC/12/0246) has been lodged for its demolition and all comments must be received in writing to the council by April 5, so there is little time left.

I have been in business for most of my life and understand the need for developers to make a profit, and I am aware that the Locarno site has proved difficult in an economically viable way.

However, no satisfactory plans for redevelopment have been received to date and I think it outrageous and arrogant for any developer to show disrespect for our heritage for monetary gain.

This proposal should be unanimously rejected. There are precious few buildings of historical interest left in Swindon.

Councillors, you are our elected representatives and we respect your intelligent decisions on public issues affecting us.

It would not bode well for the council if this application were allowed.

Please reject it now.

Bob Robertson Hesketh Crescent Swindon

Calling all angels

To mark World Nurses Day on May 12, 2012, we would like to hear from nurses past and present to join in with our celebrations at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

World Nurses Day is a special day for nurses all over the world to celebrate their profession.

May 12 marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale, whose hard work and dedication during the Crimean War helped shaped the way nursing is today.

This year, we are focusing on the history of nursing and we would love to hear your own special memories and experiences of being a nurse.

A selection of your stories will be featured in our celebrations to mark the event, which will be held in the GWH Atrium and at community hospitals across Wiltshire on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 10-12.

Please tell us: l Where and when you trained l Why you became a nurse l About your nursing career l How you think nursing has changed over the years l Any special memories or experiences you would like to share with others.

You may also have photos of yourself, your uniform and other memorabilia that you may like to share with us.

Please send your messages and photos to comms@gwh.nhs.uk or write to: Lisa Hocking, Infection Prevention and Control Lead Nurse, Trust Headquarters, Great Western Hospital, Marlborough Road, Swindon SN3 6BB by Friday, May 4, 2012.

We are looking forward to hearing your stories.

Sue Rowley Director of Nursing and Midwifery Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Taxing paperwork

The coalition government tells us it is making strenuous efforts to reduce costs and improve efficiency. I wonder if they have told Sir Humphrey?

I retired in January and prior to this wrote to my tax office, HMRC Cardiff, with full details including the myriad taxable benefits I would no longer receive; well, both of them. A new Notice of Coding which had clearly crossed in the post arrived a couple of days later, followed promptly by a revised one which was correct. Full marks HMRC Cardiff.

A week or two later a red-faced, perspiring postman delivered form P161 to me. This makes War and Peace look like a pamphlet. It was sent because my pension provider had contacted HMRC to say I would receive a pension. I purchased a pack of biros, put a camp bed in my study and settled down to fill it in.

At first I thought it strange. The first question was, “What is your name?”. Oddly enough it is the same as the name they typed at the top of the form. The second question was, “What is the PAYE scheme number of your pension provider (if known)?”. Oddly enough it was the number they had typed at the top of the page. Then the penny dropped; the form is a collaboration between the NHS and HMRC to test that my mental faculties are still approximately functioning. Joined up, cost-cutting government of the highest order.

I went to the pub and slipped a couple of large blokes a fiver to carry the form to the post office and went for a lie down. A few weeks went by and the postman brought me three new Notices of Coding, this time from Newcastle. They were all dated February 26, were all different, were all wrong but two were in the same envelope; more praiseworthy economy.

Somehow, Sir Humphrey has decided that I haven’t really retired, I am just between jobs, so they will continue to tax me for a company car etc etc. No doubt form P161A, supplement 23, revision 42 is on its way from Auchtermuchty or Little Snoring-under-Ditchwater so that I can give them all the same information again... and again... and again.

It seems Sir Humphrey is alive and well. Then again, I suppose he would say the same applies to Victor Meldrew.

Graham Price Turnham Green Swindon

Join our brigade

The 5th Swindon Boys Brigade is based at St Margaret’s Church, Stratton St Margaret. They currently have places available for boys aged 5-10 years.

Meeting regularly in term time, the boys do various activities, including games, crafts and cooking. Now part of the Gloucestershire Battalion, the company regularly joins other companies in competitions and events. For more details, please call me on 01793 827849.

Mrs T Daglish Company captain 5th Swindon Boys Brigade Company