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MESSAGE FROM THE TEAM Welcome to our August edition of the Anything Swindon magazine. Summer is finally here and with a few scorching days already we look set to have a warm and pleasant few months; Probably with a spot of rain or two thrown in, well it wouldn’t be a British summer without it! We have a packed edition with our regular updates from Empire Cinemas, Drove Vets, SnDogs and much more. The magazine is now also readily available from many other outlets and also delivered door 2 door using our very own team. If you, unfortunately, are not on our route or you are not able to pick up a copy locally, please let us know and we will happily post out a copy for you. Next Month: Next month we will be celebrating our two year anniversary and have some great ideas and chances to win plenty of prizes. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more on this in the next few weeks!
Happy reading! And have a great summer Ian and Graham
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 06
SUMMER YOUTH PROJECT
10
EMPIRE MOVIE NEWS
12
SNDOGS UPDATE
13
DROVE VETS UPDATE
15
OLD TOWN CLLR UPDATE
16
CHARLIE NESBITT FEATURE
18
VSF ADVERTISING FEATURE
23
CHURCHFIELDS ACADEMY FEATURE
25
MP UPDATES
26
WESSEX MALE CHOIR FEATURE
29
MOOVAHOME PROPERTY FOCUS
33
FERNDALE CLLR UPDATE
34
PARKS / WALCOT CLLR UPDATE
facebook.com/anythingSwindon @anythingswindon
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Design editor: Ian E: ian@screamingmedia.co.uk Editor: Graham E: graham@screamingmedia.co.uk Advertising: Telephone 01793 977117
Designed & Printed: Screaming Media Ltd www.screamingmedia.co.uk Readership: 75,000 Circulation: 25,000 Online View 15,000 per month,
The Anything Swindon magazine is now working with The woodland Trust, Supporting the campaign to protect precious ancient woods by supporting the ones that are damaged and fight for those under threat. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity. Over the last 40 years or so, we have acquired more than 1,000 woodland sites covering over 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No. 294344) and in Scotland (No. SC038885).
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DELIVERED TO 25K HOMES & BUSINESSES EVERY MONTH! There is strong evidence that suggests local services are preferred by the majority of the UK population. A potential 75,000 readers every month! An independent local magazine hand delivered to 25,000 local homes and businesses throughout Central and East Swindon using a trusted team of distributors ensuring the magazine arrives on time and to the right doorsteps each edition. It is distributed for free each month to over 500 targeted pubs, theatres, restaurants, colleges universities, coffee shops, tourist centres and national chains across Swindon and Wiltshire.
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Summer Update NSBRCYouth MainProject Feature
With less than a month to go the Theatre is a hive of activity in preparation for one of the biggest events of our year! Technically speaking, the team have arranged the set and are in meetings to discuss logistics – how do you move a car on and off the stage around 180 performers? They have been discussing lighting, props and other aspects of scenery etc. I have seen a sneak preview of the car – trust me, you will be amazed! The technical participants will arrive here a week before the on stage performers – they have a week longer to prepare the set and source various props, equipment, paint the sets etc. Last year we had to cook and prepare chicken drumsticks for the performances; trust me, you didn’t want to eat them after the production, they smelt terrible! Kendal, the Wardrobe Mistress has been in to the Theatre and has begun the task of creating the fabulous 1950’s costumes that makes this musical so iconic. She was checking for petticoats and leather jackets when I left her! Having watched Grease numerous times (I remember the film when it was released back in 1978…
I saw it at least 5 times at the cinema!) I always wished I could have worn the stylish skirts and off the shoulder tops as sported by Rizzo and Marty – sadly I’m more likely to look good in a pair of overalls from the garage! The Principals will be coming in for fittings soon; that’s when it really feels like the Project is starting to take shape. On the administration front, all the participants have been signed up, their paperwork has been processed and t-shirts ordered. The Chaperones have all been briefed, and are ready for the organised chaos that rehearsals bring when you have a Theatre full of young people.
Our Marketing team has been collating and putting together the programme – getting photos for the all the Principals and the Creative Team as well as preparing interesting articles about the Grease show and the era when it was set. I hope the participants have been learning the songs as it is a very intense rehearsal period. The Summer Youth Project runs for 2 weeks – on Day 1 they know nothing and by Day 10 the Company puts on the first show (there are 5) on a professional stage! I am always amazed at how the Creative team manages to get the best out of the young people in such a short period of time – their commitment, and the children’s enthusiasm and talent is always wonderful to see and be part of. Ticket office has told me that the shows are selling really well, in fact as I write this a couple of the performances are nearly sold out! And that is before the rehearsals have even started! How exciting! I am off to finish the last minute preparations and to get my outfit ready for Press night – I wonder if I can grow my hair long enough for a beehive by August? Nyree Kingsbury Summer Youth Project Production Co-Ordinator
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S u m m e r Y o u t h P r o j e c t 201 6 presents
Thu 25 – Sat 27 August BOOK , MUSIC, AND LYRICS BY JIM JACOBS AND WARREN C ASEY ‘GREASE’ IS PRESENTED THROUGH SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH AND ALL AUTHORISED PERFORMANCES MATERIALS ARE SUPPLIED BY THEATRICAL RIGHTS WORLDWIDE (TRW) OF NEW YORK ‘HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU’, ‘YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT’, ‘SANDY’ AND ‘GREASE’ BY ARRANGEMENT WITH ROBERT STIGWOOD
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
BOOK ONLINE swindontheatres.co.uk
#SYP16
Empire Movie News!
Win four tickets to a Film of your choice! Visit the Anything Swindon facebook page, like our page and share the competition post and we will choose a winner at random We will choose the winner on the 25th of every month and list the winner online and in the magazine.
“Well done to Mrs P Rayment who won the July competition! We will be in touch on how to get your prize� PAGE 10
SNDogs August update We would also like to thank our ‘Crafty Ladies Group’ who made up the 36 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize hampers.
Up and Coming SNDog Events:
Registered Charity No. 1163257 SNDogs (Saving Needy Dogs) The SNDogs and volunteers have been very busy over the past couple of months with Street Collections in Marlborough and Highworth plus Hinton Parva Village Fete and Aldbourne Doggy Day (we have survived hail, thunder & lightning, torrential rain and on occasions the sun came out!).
SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST PAWS IN THE PARK, CHELTENHAM (11AM-5PM) SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST WANBOROUGH CARNIVAL SATURDAY 27TH AUGUST DOG WALK AT COATE WATER, SWINDON (10.30AM- 12 NOON) PLEASE VISIT WWW.SNDOGS.UK FOR THE FULL LIST OF EVENTS
DOG OF THE MONTH
Highlights were the SNDogs Dog Show at Coate Water with Guest Judge Victoria McGuckin and Blu an adopted SNDog (pictured above) who campaigns for Canine Epilepsy. We also took part in the Wroughton Carnival Parade – the SNDogs Team love dressing up as you can tell from the picture below!
CAN YOU GIVE ZIGGY A HOME? Ziggy is an older sweet dog who has lived in a Shelter for many years. He enjoys being outside but needs a bit more confidence with working on a lead. He can be timid and unsure when he first meets you but after a couple of visits he will come to you and even want a cuddle or two.. He does get on with other dogs but can get upset around boisterous dogs. Anyone wishing to adopt Ziggy would need to take things slowly with him until he becomes more settled. Ziggy cannot live with cats and would prefer to be in a quiet home.
If you can give ZIGGY a home please email sndrescue@gmail.com We also have some more thank you’s to the following companies who helped with donations for the Coate Water Dog Show: M&S (Town Centre) who donated gift vouchers and biscuits and a lovely bouquet of flowers for our Guest Judge, PetShed for doggie toys and Woof and Brew for dog treats.
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SNDogs relies entirely on donations - there are many ways you can help SNDogs. Donate via Paypal – swindonsneedydogs@ gmail.com or bank transfer to (Co-op) SNDogs Account No. 65622481 sort code 089299. We also have an Amazon Wish List – search for Saving Needy Dogs. Visit our website for more info... www.sndogs.uk
Drove Vets Feature Ideally for all pets if possible you should try to find a policy that provides ongoing cover (i.e. there is no time limit for any one condition, some companies will only pay for each condition for up to one year), this is particularly important if your pet develops a chronic condition where they may need lifelong treatment. Also in the case of dogs in particular it’s worth checking if the policy has a third party cover in case your pet causes accidental damage to someone else’s property.
Benefits of Pet Insurance If we become ill we are lucky to have the National Health Service which we all pay for regularly through our taxes so if we need medical or surgical treatment the cost has already been covered in most cases. But what about our pets if they are ill? Like people animals are living longer and this is partly due to improvements in the medical and surgical care we can give them. Examples include specialist services such as MRI scans available to animals which can help diagnose among other things conditions of the spine or brain, artificial hip replacement in dogs or chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cancer patients .As well as specialist care where costs can run into thousands, most vets now use up to date medicines including safer anaesthetic drugs (often the same as those used in humans) which minimise the risk of problems but also unfortunately cost more money. The cost of common chronic problems such as arthritis or sugar diabetes can also mount as daily medication and frequent check-ups are often required. One way of spreading the costs of your pet’s health care is insurance. Health insurance for pets does not cover routine visits such as vaccination and neutering or worming and flea treatment products. But if your pet has an accident or serious illness then the funds can be found to pay for their care. The choice of insurance options available for cats and dogs is huge, and there are even some companies who will insure rabbits or other small rodents and exotic pets such as birds or reptiles. Like anything it’s worth researching a few options before you make your decision but it is always worth checking the small print. ANYTHING SWINDON
Of course no company will insure your pet retrospectively once they have had a medical problem, any policy taken out after this will exclude a pre-existing or previous problem. As vets, if an insurance company requests a pet’s history, we are obliged to send it to them so any pre-existing problems will be discovered. Likewise if you decide to change your insurance company at any point exclusions could apply An example of the benefits of insurance is ‘Fluffy’ who was rushed into our hospital in Swindon as a stray cat after a road traffic accident. He was micro-chipped so we were able to find his owner who was abroad on holiday at the time. After several days in intensive care to treat kidney damage he had surgery on his fractured jaw and leg. During his recovery the stress of the accident caused him to develop severe anaemia for which he needed treatment with blood products and medication and a further stay in the hospital. ’Fluffy’ is currently doing well. Luckily he was insured so his owner had the peace of mind that the medical bills would be covered. Always remember if you have any concerns about your pet, please contact your vet.
For more information please see our website www.drovevets.co.uk Or our Facebook page for more details.
24 HR EMERGENCY SERVICE TELEPHONE:
(01793) 522483 www.drovevets.co.uk
WWW.ANYTHINGSWINDON.CO.UK
TEL: 01793 977117
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a diverse range of enquires from debt and housing to employment and benefits issues.” A telephone adviser will need excellent listening and questioning skills to allow the caller to fully explain their problem.
Citizens Advice Swindon is expanding its telephone advice service and is looking for volunteers who can help them meet the rising demand from Swindon residents. By increasing the hours and availability of its phone service the bureau is hoping to help those people who find it difficult to access offices in person perhaps because of a disability, caring responsibilities or work commitments. Claire Newport, Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Swindon said “We know demand for our telephone service is rising as people need more flexible ways to access the advice they need and we want to increase the availability of our current Adviceline. We also see it as a new volunteering opportunity for people who see their skills as better suited to helping people over the phone. It’s an exciting role which could see you helping a range of people with PAGE 14
They will be asked to find, interpret and explain relevant information to help the callers take the next steps towards a solution. The bureau is looking for volunteers who can commit to giving time each week to help their local community. Claire continued “Our aim is to open the Advice line Monday-Friday between 10am and 4pm so there is flexibility for volunteers to find hours that suit them, all we ask is for a weekly commitment. To help us reach this target to expand we need to recruit new volunteers for our September training programme. Full training and support is given throughout a volunteer’s time with the bureau.”
To find out more or request an application pack you can call 01793 402106 or email trainer2@swindon.cabnet.org.uk or download an application form from www.citizensadviceswindon.org.uk
Old Town Cllr update Councillors Nadine Watts & Jane MilnerBarry – Old Town & East Wichel – oldtown@swindonlabour.co.uk 07595 071381 & 07864 839746 Town Gardens - work on the replacement footbridge is due to start on site on 5 September. Speeding - residents are still reporting cars speeding across 20mph areas in Old Town. If you are interested in taking part in a Community Speed Watch group, please let us know. Wichelstowe - The legal agreement with Barratt Developments for Middle & West Wichel should be completed in August. A secondary school is planned to open in Middle Wichel in Sept 2018. Old Town Library - Old Town, Parks and Wroughton libraries are among eleven libraries which would close next year under the Council administration’s revised plans for the Library Service. The mobile library, which
ANYTHING SWINDON
currently visits Blackman Gardens, Henrietta Court, Beatty Court and Woodspring Court, would also be axed, leaving less mobile Old Town residents with no library provision. Visit www.swindon.gov.uk/librariesfuture or Old Town Library, for details of the public consultation which runs from 1 August to 30 September. No.22 Bus Service Public Consultation – The No.22 bus, which currently runs from Okus to B&Q at Barnfield via Old Town, is one of the services which is due to lose support under the Council’s Local Bus Service Review. As from October this year, the bus would stop in the town centre instead of continuing to Barnfield, and the evening service would be axed altogether. Other affected services passing through Old Town will be Nos. 9, 12, 25, 71, 70A and 72A. The transport plans also include “community bus services” linking with transport hubs. You can make your views known before 22 August at
www.swindon.gov.uk/busconsultation
WWW.ANYTHINGSWINDON.CO.UK
TEL: 01793 977117
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Feature e3 Charlie MotorsportNesbitt / Redline KTM
29 June 2016
e3 Motorsport / Redline KTM
HEL Performance Motostar British Championship Round Four - 24/26 June 2016 - Knockhill
KNOCKHILL SUCCESS FOR NEW LAP RECORD HOLDER NESBITT! Charlie Nesbitt continued his early season domination of the HEL Performance Motostar British Championship taking an impressive win and setting a new lap record in dry conditions backed up by a superb ride to second place from the back row of the grid in wet conditions to increase his overall championship lead to 27 points. Making his intentions clear on Friday morning, Charlie was fastest in free practice, and improved his time further during the Þrst qualifying session to Þnish the day on provisional pole position just a fraction outside the circuit lap record. Track conditions were once again favourable during SaturdayÕs Þnal qualifying during which Charlie set a blistering pace on his Pirelli slick tyres, circulating under the current lap record 10 times to take pole position over half a second clear of his closest rival. Making an excellent start to the 16 lap race, Charlie moved straight into the lead, setting impressive times on every lap as he pulled away from the Þeld, setting a new lap record on lap four as he built his lead to over two seconds. Over the remaining laps Charlie broke his own lap record a further four times, on his way to taking the chequered ßag 11 seconds clear of his nearest rival.
Charlie was faced with a wet track for race two, with persistent rain continuing to fall. Several riders including Charlie were forced to start from the back of the grid having arrived after the pit lane had closed. The 22 lap race got underway with Charlie keen to make rapid progress,
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29 June 2016
e3 Motorsport / Redline KTM
which he achieved by moving up 20 places from his grid position by the end of lap one. Many riders fell in the difÞcult conditions but Charlie remained focused as his conÞdence grew in his Pirelli wet weather tyres and he moved up to second place on lap 15, a position he held to the chequered ßag.
“Charlie has once again impressed us all this weekend, having two contrasting races and taking one very dominant win in the dry backed up by a strong ride to second place from the back of the grid in the wet, once again demonstrates his talent. We would like to thank Pirelli for their Þrst class service, advice and excellent tyres, and of course a huge thank you to all our loyal sponsors for their continued support.” - Nick Carpenter (Team Principal - e3 Motorsport / Redline KTM) Taking 45 points from the two races has consolidated CharlieÕs lead at the top of the HEL Performance Motostar British Championship. The next round takes place at Snetterton over the weekend 8-10 July. Photographs: Bonnie Lane written & distributed by: Martin Knighton e3 Motorsport / Redline KTM
Do you have an up and coming event that could do with some publicity? Contact us on 01793 977117 or email info@anythingswindon.co.uk for more information.
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At V.S.F. Ltd we have been helping people turn their old, impractical garages into modern and useful spaces for the last decade. Our experts can take on pretty much any project, from refurbishing your rundown concrete garage ensuring you have a secure storage space for years to come, to erecting a completely new one for you, or transforming your garage into an up-to-date and ultra-functional utility room. It doesn’t matter how old your garage is or what condition it is in, V.S.F will give it a new lease of life or totally transform it to add value to your home. Whether it’s just a replacement roof that is needed or a full refurbishment, V.S.F. will take care of every aspect, from the technical survey through to the installation. You don’t even need to empty your garage we will empty it for you if necessary, do the job and then leave everything spotless when we have gone. You won’t even know we have been there, apart from the wonderful space that we leave behind. V.S.F. can reduce or extend your garage, block up doors with panels, take out panels and add new doors. We can reduce or increase garage door sizes, install new windows or change your roof from flat to apex. The options for your garage are virtually endless - and we will work with you at every stage to ensure you get just what you want. Marcus Jeffreys, strategic consultant for the company, said: “We are absolutely committed to ensuring that from your initial contact to completing your installation,
whether it be a refurbishment or a replacement garage, every aspect of your installation is managed correctly, ensuring that the installation and completion dates are met. “In present times, when the building industry has a reputation for not fulfilling deadlines and shoddy workmanship, we take pride in offering you a pleasant buying experience. This means providing quality products installed by trained personnel and on the date promised. “We are also proud to be able to provide quality products at a fair market price. We are always continuing to improve our products and negotiate the best prices so that we can offer our customers value for money.” Safety, too, is paramount for us. With so many garages of the age and type that we work on containing potentially hazardous asbestos, our experience is all the more important. All our operatives are certified asbestos removers meaning that they can remove the asbestos safely and legally from your garage and also hold valid waste carriers licences to allow legal transportation of your asbestos to our depot. And on top of all this, we offer a free, no-obligation consultation. So, for the best storage, utility or living space you can get, contact V.S.F. For more details, visit our website at www. vsfgaragerepairsuk.com or give us a call on 0800 917 9550.
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Ask AMS
Advice for small businesses AMS Accountancy Ltd. 01793 818400
My business partner spent the profits from our business – am I now responsible for the debts? If your business is a Partnership, not a Limited Company or a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), all partners are “jointly and severally liable” for the Partnership debts. If there are no Partnership funds for the bills, creditors can chase you personally for the money – even though your partner took it out of the business. In a Limited Company or a Limited Liability Partnership, you would not be liable for these debts. Here, the monies and assets would be owned by the business itself. Exceptions: loans with a personal guarantee and trading while insolvent or fraudulently. www.ask-ams.co.uk @AMSAccountancy www.ams-accountancy.co.uk
LIDEN CFC U8 Liden Community football club are based at Liden Primary School and play in the North Wilts Youth Football League. We are always on the look out for new players. If you have a boy or girl interested in joining please email lidenfcsecretary@ sky.com or lidenfctreasurer@outlook.com with your contact details and players age and we will ask the relevant coach to get in touch.
We are looking for players in the following age groups:
Under 7s, 9s, 10s, 11s, 12s, 13s, 15s and under 16s
“We’re always looking for new players and new sponsors.” PAGE 20
20 EARIN 16 G
CL
Swindon College
IT’S CLEARING AND SIMPLE There’s still time to apply for a University level course starting THIS SEPTEMBER 2016!
Call us to today on (01793) 491591 to discuss your options further, or visit www.swindon.ac.uk ANYTHING SWINDON
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TEL:01793 977117
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Churchfields Academy Logo
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Churchfields Academy Inspiring and Creating Futures For All
We are an 11-16 secondary in Old Walcot, Swindon
Regular lawn mowing from ÂŁ12 per visit
We believe that within each child there is massive potential to achieve and that as teachers, it is our job to ensure that this potential is met through academic studies, creativity and a desire to believe in yourself. Tours can be set up at any time for students wishing to transfer from Primary or another Secondary Call 01793 487286 www.churchfields.org
01793 477800
GardenRoomSwindon.co.uk Commercial grass cutting services also available.
GAR_697653.pdf 13:49:24 January 15, 2014 1 of 2 Sarah PAGE 22
Churchfields Academy Update
CHURCHFIELDS ACADEMY CELEBRATES NEW APPOINTMENT! A rigorous selection procedure ran over two days and gave us ample opportunity to assess the strengths of all the candidates. At the end of the process we appointed Mrs Sandra Muir, who we believe to be the best person to lead us forward.
Churchfields Academy is delighted to announce, that following a two day interview process, it has successfully appointed Sandra Muir as the new Headteacher of Churchfields Academy. Sandra has been a member of staff since 1999 and was appointed as Acting Principal in November 2015. The Academy has also recently appointed a new Chair of Governors, Jane Hext. Jane was until recently CEO of Santia Consulting, a Health & Safety risk management business and prior to that was Customer Services Director of Vodafone UK. Jane said ‘We were very pleased with the response we had to the advertisement and we were able to shortlist from a strong field of candidates.
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I am confident that under Mrs Muir’s leadership, we can go from strength to strength. Mrs Muir has the energy, drive and commitment which Churchfields needs to take us forward and will ensure that we are inspiring and creating futures for all’. Jane added ‘We will continue to collaborate with Royal Wootton Bassett Academy, which is an outstanding 11-18 school near Swindon, on intra-school development and sharing best practice.’ Mrs Muir said ‘ I feel very privileged and excited to lead Churchfields through the next stage of its journey. I look forward to working closely with our community partners and RWBA to make Churchfields an excellent school that inspires all students to be the best that they can be.’ Churchfields Academy will run parental tours throughout September and October and anyone wishing to visit and speak to a member of the senior team or to meet the new Headteacher should contact 01793 487286.
WWW.ANYTHINGSWINDON.CO.UK
TEL: 01793 977117
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For more information or to book tickets please call the booking line on 01793 524481 or visit swindontheatres.co.uk PAGE 24
Mp Updates
Robert Buckland MP Update It has been an honour to represent South Swindon as the local Member of Parliament for the last six years. Despite working predominantly in Westminster to ensure the views of South Swindon’s 80,000 constituents are heard, summer recess gives me the opportunity to concentrate solely on constituency events and meetings. Living locally here in South Swindon and having my office on Wood Street enables me to be both visible and approachable (something all MPs should be). Over the last few weeks I have been and will continue to be busy hosting local advice surgeries, meeting with residents and local businesses, to ensure I fully understand the issues that are important to local people. If you would like to keep up-to- date with all my work both in Westminster and South Swindon, make sure you like my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/robertbucklandmp/ and follow me on Twitter twitter.com/RobertBuckland; I also publish a weekly article on my website at www.robertbuckland.co.uk. If there are any local or national issues that I can be of assistance with, please do not hesitate to contact my office on 01793 533393 or send an email to Robert.buckland.mp@parliament.uk
Justin Tomlinson MP Update Local MPs Join Forces To Support Swindon Carers Local MP Justin Tomlinson has handed out certificates to youngsters who have completed a 12 week course run by Inner Flame and the Prince’s Trust. The course was created to help young individuals, some of whom had experienced adverse circumstances, to meet new people, gain valuable work experience and engage in community projects. Organisations including M&S, the Brunel Centre, Street Games, British Heart Foundation, Rockstar Climbing and Cross Street Garage played a key part in the course as they allowed the youngsters to join them for their two weeks of work experience. Nationwide also played a valuable part in the course by visiting the students and conducting mock interviews after they had all had a chance to create a proper CV. When it came to the community element, the students visited the Toothill Farmhouse which they helped to redecorate and transformed so that it could be used as a pre-school. They also got stuck in by weeding and cleaning the garden areas, as well as repainting the walls with a new colour. Justin Tomlinson MP said: “It was fantastic to see just how much these youngsters had grown in confidence and ability over the course of the 12 weeks. I have long be a support of the Prince’s Trust; as somebody who went to school bottom of the league tables, where two of my classmates ended up in prison, I know just how important these organisations are, especially when they step in and prevent people from going down the wrong path. Inner Flame is also a fantastic local organisation and I am proud that I suggested them as a partner for the Princes Trust, allowing them to create this course for young people in Swindon.”
MPs Office, 1 Milton Road, Swindon SN1 5JE - 01793 533393 justin.tomlinson.mp@parliament.uk ANYTHING SWINDON
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Wessex Male Choir Feature
Wessex Male Choir Raise the Roof at STEAM
The multi award winning Wessex Male Choir sang to a packed house at STEAM in Swindon last Saturday in their 15th Summer concert in the presence of Swindon Mayor, Councillor Eric Shaw. Opening with a tender rendition of Harry Middlebrooks and Bruce Belland’s ‘What would I Do Without My Music’, the Choir went on to delight the audience with a variety of songs from the world of opera, traditional and sacred music, ending their first set to rapturous applause with Verdi’s ‘Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves’. They were then joined by their guests the talented ‘Jubilate’ ladies choir from London to sing Franz Biebl’s beautiful and rarely heard arrangement of Ave Maria. Jubilate opened the second half of the concert with Karl Jenkins’ ‘Adiemus’ before a light-hearted rendition of the Somerset folk song ‘never Wed an Old Man’. Wessex tenor Guy Edwards then joined Jubilate as a soloist for Paul Mealor’s ‘In My Dreams’, a piece written for the Military Wives Choir. The Wessex Chamber Choir then performed songs including Elton John’s ‘Can you feel the love tonight’ from Disney’s award-winning musical, the Lion King. PAGE 26
The Choir then closed the show with the beautiful ‘Memory’ from Cats and a rousing and heartfelt version of ‘American Trilogy’ showing just what a male choir can do with this powerful piece of music, which happens to be a particular favourite of the outgoing Musical Director, Katrine Reimers. Katrine’s successor as Musical Director, Rhiannon Williams-Hale, was also in the audience to hear the Choir perform. As part of its campaign to support and nurture young talent, the Choir also hosted two local young musicians, Chloe Wood and Bradley Cowtan, giving these two talented youngsters a chance to perform in front of a new audience. The Choir is also part of another campaign which includes a ‘REAL MEN SING!’ event on 27th September at the Church of Christ the Servant, Elstree Way, Abbey Meads, Swindon at 7.30pm at which men (both young and old) will be welcome to come and have sing before joining the choristers for a beer! (Watch out for details on the Choir’s website at www.wessexmalechoir.co.uk and book early as places may be limited!)
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Based in Stratton St Margaret, for your extra convenience we also have offices at 1 Groundwell Road, 300 yards from the Registrar’s Office, an easy place to call into after registration. We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. 92 Ermin Street, Stratton St Margaret, SN3 4NN – 01793 832072 or 1 Groundwell Road, Swindon, SN1 2LT – 01793 422422.
Tel: 01793 695110 www.anythingstone.co.uk
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Property Feature
WHEN PEOPLE MENTION BREXIT, PEOPLE LISTEN!! Let’s get the property facts in Swindon…. We caught up with Local Estate Agent Ashley Cain, Director of Moovahome.co.uk to find out how the market has been affected since the vote… ‘Friday 24th June was without doubt a historic day for British and European people. By giving us the vote to either remain or go, the landscape following the result has indeed changed forever. With change brings natural fear, however most people we have spoken to since have had one question – will it affect my property price? The day started for many of us tuning into the TV at 4 or 5am and what followed was exhilarating, personally to go to bed the night before looking like we were staying and to then wake being a lone nation was surreal. The day was taken up with Brexit talk, whether with our staff whom are proudly not all British, to taking calls from worried vendors debating pulling out of sales. We managed to save a lot of sales however being honest Brexit caused many to fall through with a number being pulled from market just as we had started advertising. By 9pm on the Friday, Brexit had smacked the local market somewhat. That weekend the marketplace appeared quiet with buyers and sellers trying to understand and take in the expert views on finances, the market and indeed what would now happen to our Country in the coming years. The truth is nobody knows exactly what will happen in the future. After the initial dust had settled, we found the coming days and weeks, an active marketplace with the first roots being shown of a recovery as such. Recovery is probably the wrong word here, given there was no real downturn in the market but simply a short term, weekend, panic. ANYTHING SWINDON
Take ons are now at a record high during the year for us at Moovahome and people who are registering with us to buy is also up in July. These factors all indicate to us that the price of your property will not be affected during the coming months. The UK has always been obsessed with owning a home and we cannot see this changing, simply put the demand will remain there and supply of house is the bigger problem. If you are buying or selling, we advise you speak to a number of agents to understand the pricing in the area you live or are looking to move into. With a number of agents now operating in Swindon, the cost of selling does not have to be thousands. Moovahome offer traditional agency with a twist on the marketing from 1% for full estate agency service (capped at £2,495) but also offer sellers the option of marketing only for a low £699. By shopping around, sellers will find a price and service that suits them. Summing up, we advise people not to panic. The Country will not stop trading and the need for a property will continue’
For a free appraisal or property chat email the team at:
info@moovahome.co.uk or call 01793522669
WWW.ANYTHINGSWINDON.CO.UK
TEL:01793 977117
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Contact Lou for further details
07784 098022
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Home Design, Architecture, Planning, Drawings, Building Regulations, 3D Visuals, Marketing + more... single storey Ben Williams 01793 920265
ben@benwill.co.uk
ANYTHING SWINDON
WWW.ANYTHINGSWINDON.CO.UK
TEL:01793 977117
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Ferndale Cllr Update Are you in a Parish, you will be! Swindon Council started a process about a year ago which will lead to Parish Councils in every part of Swindon. All requests for a referendum on the matter have been rebuffed by the Council. A consultation has been undertaken by the Council in a serious of meetings, not well attended. Consultative maps have been produced but at the time of writing there has been no firm proposal as to how many Parish Councils and what the borders might be, that will happen on the 17th of August when the Swindon Council Cabinet will make its recommendations. Its claimed it is being done to give greater democracy to local people yet in the process Swindon Council expects to save £6.5 million pounds a year by 2020. Indeed the Council does have to find savings of £9 million next year and a further £9 million in the following year and still a further 7.5 million by 2020 due to losses in Government Grants.
ANYTHING SWINDON
The rural area has had Parishes for very many years and Swindon Town has had the Swindon Special Rate. The plan already being implemented is to get existing Parishes to take on much more work, grass cutting, graffiti removal, hedges and trees, play areas and parks and much much more. It is even been suggested Parishes should pay for street lighting and take over funding local libraries if they like. That costs money, even what the Council does now from the Swindon Special Rate transferred to Central Swindon area comes in at £73 and that without any of the new works. My estimate, which I stand by is that this process will increase the total bill for your household between £150 to £200 a year by 2020. My Colleagues and I intend to hold a serious of meetings to alert residents to what is happening. You heard it here first in Anything Swindon so please look out for the notice for your area. Des Moffatt, Councillor, Rodbourne Cheney. Phone: 01793 336276 Bus. phone: 07709 066707 Bus. email: fendessy@yahoo.co.uk
WWW.ANYTHINGSWINDON.CO.UK
TEL:01793 977117
PAGE 33
Parks and Walcot Cllr Update
Walcot and Park North Councillors- Steve Allsopp, Abdul Amin, Emma Bushell Councillors Steve Allsopp, Abdul Amin and Emma Bushell are concerned and disappointed to council plans to cut branch libraries across Swindon. We will continue to fight these proposals which could put Walcot and Parks libraries under threat of closure in the future. However we will also work with local groups interested in maintaining a library service in the ward. The Tory council has decided to push ahead with proposals to create mini-parishes in the Walcot and Park North area to deliver basic services like grounds maintenance and minor highways works, instead of Swindon Council. The new parishes will need to raise a new council tax called a parish precept to pay for these services. The Council is currently consulting on the boundaries for the new parishes. Local Councillors believe parishes should not be imposed on residents without a referendum.
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Councillors continue to work with officers to make Walcot West a 20 MPH area and alleviate parking problems. We understand that questions over funding are causing delays but expect residents to receive consultation letters soon. Work on the final stage of the Sussex Square regeneration works which will see the building of 34 semi-detached houses and 2 coach houses is continuing. The project is expected to be completed in March 2017. Councillors have been informed that the agreement to lease part of the Shrewsbury Road playing fields to New College for building an artificial football pitch has now been completed. We do not as yet know when construction will commence. Councillors have been working with officers to secure a community use agreement which we hope will allow access to the new facilities to local groups and users.
Emma Bushell Cllr, Walcot and Park North Tel 07876 430582
#MAN TAN 44 Commercial Road, Swindon SN1 5NX
08000 88 60 90 consol.eu