The Swindonian - April Issue

Contents

Again this month we have some great content to read over...

We have some great news for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance after they receive a donation from one of the winners of their Super Draw, another local charity, Wiltshire Tree House is looking for volunteers and funding to help expand their services to even more children and families throughout the county and the Fire Service share some great advice for those living in a thatched roof property.

The Police give an update on what is happening locally to tackle the global concern of Knife crime and on a more cheery note if you are looking to get away, Allan shares his invaluable tips for the best beaches to visit this summer across Europe..

From the editorial team here have a great Easter, go easy on the chocolate and we will see you next month, as always if you have any news or information you think the readers will like then please email us at getintouch@theswindonian.co.uk

March Shorts Just in case you missed it, check out the news from the last month.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance Super draw winner donates some of the winnings back to the Air Ambulance..

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Wiltshire Treehouse A charity which lends support to children who have lost a parent seeks funding.

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Mark Fisher returns with new XTC book We check out the latest release “What do you call that noise”

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Thameswood Vets We get our regular update on how best to look after your pet.

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Safety advise from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Safety reminder for Thatched roof owners.

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Wiltshire’s War on Knives Knife crime is rising every year, see what Wiltshire is doing to stay ahead of the game.

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Easter Quiz How many will you get correct?

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Your local councillors share the latest news around the Swindon communities.

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Looking for a great beach holiday? Find out more with Allan Trinidad.

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MARCH SHORTS THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Highworth residents are celebrating after a win on the People’s Postcode Lottery

raised over £393 million to date for 4,000 good causes across Great Britain and internationally. For more information about the People’s Postcode Lottery, you can visit: www.postcodelottery.co.uk.

Heart FM set to close its Swindon studio Heart FM bosses Global Radio have announced it is closing 10 studios across the country including Swindon, putting around 100 jobs at risk.

Regulation changes allow Global Radio to broadcast one national breakfast and just 10 regional drive time shows meaning the end to the local shows.

Neighbours in The Dormers, Highworth celebrated after waking up to the good news that their postcode had won the People’s Postcode Lottery’s Daily Prize on Thursday 7th March.

Neighbours pocketed themselves £1,000 for each ticket they held in the draw.

The Postcode Lottery costs £10 per month and players sign up with their postcode.

They are automatically entered into every draw and prizes are announced every day of the month.

The daily prizes will see winning tickets pick up £1,000 each. Every Saturday and Sunday, winning postcodes are announced where players each win £30,000 and every month, players in one postcode sector area can share an incredible £3 Million.

A minimum of 32 per cent of ticket sales goes directly to charities.

Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have 4

Ben & Mel’s Breakfast Show is just one of the slots that will be replaced. The new show will be produced in London, and means an end for 22 breakfast shows and 13 drive time shows.

Global Radio says the changes will take affect ‘in the coming months’ but hasn’t yet announced a date.

Founder and executive president at Global Radio, Ashley Taylor, told Radio Today: “Competition from the BBC and digital services will intensify over the coming years and the new national breakfast shows will ensure we continue to be successful.

“Whilst I am always concerned about changes which impact on our team, it is important that we continue to evolve and grow.”

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

NHS prescription charges in England set to rise from April The government announced that NHS prescriptions in England are set to rise. The increase will come into affect from April 1st will see an extra 20p added to the current cost of each prescription taking the current price per item from £8.80 to £9.

The cost of prescription prepayment certificates (PPC) will be staying the same at £29.10 for three months or £104 for a year to ensure that those with the greatest need, and who are not already exempt from the charge, are protected.

Kate named Community Champion at national award ceremony A member of staff from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) has won a national award in recognition of her dedication to an annual Christmas Day lunch.

Watch Manager Kate Dewey, who works in the Service Control Centre, was named as Community Champion at this year’s APD National Control Room Awards, held in Nottingham on 7th March.

The awards aim to shine a light on the ‘hidden heroes’ of the control room community, across all emergency services.

There were almost 400 nominations from more than 60 organisations committed to serving the public and safeguarding society, and DWFRS was the only fire and rescue service to feature in the final shortlists.

Kate has been an integral part of ‘Company for Christmas’ for nearly ten years.

This Christmas Day lunch, originally held at Trowbridge fire station for people who would otherwise have been on their own, has now grown to an event supporting over 200 people and is hosted at County Hall in Trowbridge in partnership with Wiltshire Council.

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Swindon Town confirm joint purchase of the County Ground

Swindon Town Football Club and Swindon Town Supporters Trust have confirmed they have reached an agreement in principle with Swindon Borough Council, to jointly purchase the freehold of the County Ground.

Lee Power, Chairman and Owner of Swindon Town Football Club said: “Owning your own ground is fundamental to the long-term success of any football club – it will give us the opportunity, going forward, to make this club more sustainable and develop firm foundations in the heart of the community.”

“This project, for us, is part of a wider plan to develop the club into one with its own training ground, its own home and the flexibility to decide on its own future in partnership with the people that love it.

“The County Ground was here long before 6

any of us were, and will remain well after we’re gone and it’s important that this deal involves all parties and allows the ground’s legacy to continue for decades to come.

“This is a significant moment in the club’s 140-year history, and we would like to thank the leader of the council David Renard for his co-operation and continued support.”

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Super draw winner donates back to Wiltshire Air Ambulance Wiltshire Air Ambulance supporter Anthony Toso, who won just over £11,000 on the charity’s Superdraw lottery, has generously donated back a portion of his winnings. Mr Toso, of Highworth, near Swindon, was stunned to be told he had landed £11,321.95 from the Superdraw, but he and his wife, Linda, decided the charity should benefit and donated £500.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance, said: “All of us at Wiltshire Air Ambulance are so pleased for Anthony and Linda and we hope they enjoy their winnings. For them to kindly donate some of their prize money back to us was completely unexpected and very touching.

Following the win, the couple visited Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s airbase, in Semington, where they learned more about how the team works, including the specialist aviation and clinical training the paramedics undergo – funded by donations – and were shown the Bell 429 helicopter.

Mr Toso, 72, a retired project manager at the Central Office of Information, said: “I couldn’t believe that I won and when we received the money we both thought we should make a donation to Wiltshire Air Ambulance. The service it provides to critically ill and injured people is indispensable, the county couldn’t be without it.”

His wife, a 71-year-old retired hairdresser, said: “We were very impressed when we visited the airbase and met the team.

Everyone is so dedicated and knowledgeable.

It’s nice to see how, by playing the charity’s Lottery and Superdraw, we are helping to keep the air ambulance operational. We shall be encouraging people in our town to support the charity.”

Mr Toso started playing the charity’s lotteries in 2016 but increased his commitment in May 2018 when he met a Lottery canvasser in a supermarket in Highworth and it was the numbers from this sign up that resulted in his big Superdraw win. Rebecca de la Bedoyere, grants, lottery and legacies co-ordinator at

“By playing our lottery and Superdraw they have already helped to ensure we can continue our lifesaving service and their generous donation of £500 will cover our running costs for over an hour! That hour could mean the difference between life and death for someone in Wiltshire, so we are truly grateful. “ Players of Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s regular Lottery can join the Superdraw.

While the regular Lottery has a top prize of £1,000 a week, the Superdraw rolls over if there is no complete match until it reaches a maximum prize of £25,000.

To play Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s regular Lottery costs £1 a week, while playing the Superdraw costs an extra £1 a week.

Players must be 16 years of age or over.

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Share a fresh new look of Swindon and be in with a chance of seeing your picture as our magazine front cover We all know that Swindon has some stunning views and with spring just around the corner there has never been a better time to take them in.

Whether it is enjoying the sights of Lydiard Park, a view of the town from Barbury Castle or a walk through Shaw Forest Park, the town in which we live definitely provides plenty of opportunities to reach for the camera to grab that memorable snap.

Now we are looking to showcase all that is great about Swindon with the readers of our monthly magazine and will be picking one photo as our cover picture for our June edition.

How does the competition work?

What we are looking for is our readers to show their own imaginative view of where they live.

The pictures can include landscapes, landmarks or just day to day life in Swindon and the surrounding area. Images can be taken of anywhere within the SN1 – SN6, SN8, SN25 and SN26 postcode areas.

The only thing they need to have in common is creativity. There are no limits on the number of entries that can be made per person.

How do I enter?

We will be running the competition across our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. It is quick and easy to enter. All you have to do is share your picture via social media: Twitter: Tweet your picture with the hashtag #SwindonCoverPic and tag @theswindonian Facebook: Post your picture with the hashtag #SwindonCoverPic under our competition post Instagram: Post your picture with the hashtag #SwindonCoverPic and tag @theswindonian The competition will run for four weeks from Monday 11th March. The pictures must have been taken on or after March 1st.

The pictures will be judged by The Swindonian editorial team and we will choose a final selection which will then go out to a public vote on our Instagram page with the winning picture being the one with the most likes on the Sunday 21st April.

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Children’s bereavement charity seeks help founding Wiltshire hub Wiltshire Treehouse, a charity which lends its support to children who have been bereaved, is marking its fifth anniversary by expanding throughout the county.

The charity is on the lookout for local businesses to help support its idea of opening a further centre somewhere in Wiltshire to meet growing need for its services.

A child under the age of eighteen loses a parent every 22 minutes in the UK which equates to around 111 a day, 23,600 each year!

Swindon families have been benefitting from the charities support since 2014 but with limited specialist bereavement support available throughout the rest of the county Wiltshire Treehouse are hoping to expand its programmes for primary and secondary school children later this year.

Kath Brownlee, Bereavement Service Lead says, “We often receive calls from parents and professionals outside of Swindon, looking for help for a child whose parent, sibling or close family member has died.

These deaths can cause anger, anxiety and great sadness for children and young people as well as parents who do not know who to turn to.

Up until now we have had to explain that we do not have the capacity to help them.”

For us the power of being in a room with like minded people was simply invaluable.

Our little boy still speaks about Treehouse now, the stories that he read with the group and the arts and crafts he has stuck up not he wall are a reminder of the skills he learnt to process his grief.”

In order to succeed the charity is on the look-out for individuals who can volunteer and also companies to help with assistance either through employee volunteering, charity partnerships or skills sharing.

Wiltshire Treehouse has received funding from The National Lottery Community Fund which will cover some of the costs associated with opening the new hub, which will hopefully be open later this year.

Volunteer training is planned to start this June with the aim of delivering support to Wiltshire families by the end of 2019.

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Darren, whose child attended the charities support programme said, “Before Treehouse we’d never met any other children dealing with bereavement.

If you are able to volunteer, can offer financial support to the charity or would like more information on the bereavement programme please contact: Kath Brownlee, Bereavement Service Lead at admin@wiltshiretreehouse.org.uk or on 0749 350 9750.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

What Do You Call That Noise?

- Mark Fisher returns with new XTC book Mark Fisher will be known to many discerning music fans as the person responsible for helping to chronicle the exploits of XTC via his fan club magazine Limelight back in the day.

He later compiled the most interesting bits into The XTC Bumper Book of Fun for Boys and Girls, spoke about it at Swindon Festival of Literature and was found loitering around Old Town for a few days during the much talked about TC&I shows which saw Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers reunited for a run of 12

Art Centre shows.

Now he is back with another musical exploration of one of the most essential pop groups of the 20th century. What Do You Call That Noise? An XTC Discovery Book is a compelling 228-page love letter to the band where some of the world’s leading musicians and keenest fans come together to discuss what makes XTC so very special.

Every member of XTC also makes an appearance, including Andy Partridge on mixing, Dave Gregory

on arranging and Barry Andrews on the piano – not to mention an in-depth review of Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers playing live as TC&I for the first time in 36 years. There are also interviews with XTC drummers Pete Phipps, Pat Mastelotto, Ian Gregory, Prairie Prince, Dave Mattacks and Chuck Sabo.

There are contributions from super-fans and fellow musicians, including Peter Gabriel, Rick Buckler (The Jam,) Debbi Peterson (The Bangles,) Jason Faulkner (Jellyfish, ) Chris Difford (Squeeze,) and many more.

Mark Fisher may now be Scotland’s foremost commentator on the arts having clocked up over 25 years’ experience and currently the Scottish theatre critic for the Guardian.

But he was once a young, wide-eyed XTC fan and it is this combination of exuberance for the subject and his skills as an arts writer that makes him such a great editor for this sumptuous collection of articles and interviews. It goes without saying that it is a must for any XTC fan.

Ask AMS

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Transferring a business to a Limited Company Transferring from a sole-trader or partnership, to a Limited Company is sometimes recommended to

Any discerning music aficionado, anyone interested in highly original music makers and fans of the history of Swindon music. In fact it is hard to think of anyone who won’t find this book a fascinating and worthy read.

benefit from Limited Liability and following issues are considered: When: Work out which side of a tax year end to transfer the business - this decision will affect taxable income (and rates) between tax years.

Documents: A Company is a separate legal entity and needs to be reflected invoices, contracts, website and insurance policies.

Capital Gains Tax and hold-over elections (s.162/ s.165 elections): Transfer of a business can result in Capital Gains Tax. Valuation of assets (particularly ‘goodwill’) may be necessary and ‘hold-over elections’; if necessary, submitted to HMRC in order to reduce/postpone Capital gains Tax.

01793 818400 @AMSAccountancy www.ams-accountancy.co.uk

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

“Diabetes” We are all used to hearing about diabetes in humans but did you know it’s a very common condition that we see in pets too.

Diabetes is a condition where the animal does not produce enough insulin or their body does not allow them to use insulin effectively enough.

Insulin is produced by the pancreas and allows glucose in the blood to enter the cells and provide the body with the energy it needs.

As with humans older and overweight pets can be more at risk of diabetes but it can affect animals of any age.

Some of the signs are: • Drinking more • Urinating more • Weight loss • Increased appetite • Lethargy • Poor coat condition • Sudden loss of vision What can be done Diabetes can often be easily diagnosed but can take time to reach effective treatment.

After a veterinary examination diagnosis is often achieved following blood and urine tests.

Diabetes can be treated and very occasionally cured in cats.

The treatment consists of daily insulin injections along with an appropriate diet.

Left undiagnosed pets become very unwell and can sometimes lead to a lifethreatening emergency.

Our Diabetes awareness clinics aim to help owners manage this condition.

For more information visit our website to download our FREE diabetes awareness packs or contact your nearest clinic to book in to one of our free awareness advice clinics.

Visit us online at: www.thameswoodvets.co.uk Or one of our clinics below.

PURTON ROAD 01793 526780 GREENBRIDGE ROAD 01793 511267 WOOTTON BASSETT 01793 230266

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

15 Egg-cellent Easter jokes which will crack up your friends and kids

What do you call a rabbit with fleas?

What do you call a mischievous egg?

What do you call an egg from outer space?

Bugs bunny

What’s wrong with Easter jokes?

A practical yolker

An “Egg-stra terrestial”

What did the Easter bunny say to the carrot?

They crack you up

What did the Easter bunny say about the Easter parade?

It was eggs-cellent

How does the Easter bunny stay fit?

Eggs-ercise

Where does the Easter bunny get his eggs?

From an eggplant

What happened to the Easter bunny at school?

He was eggspelled

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What happened to the egg when he was tickled too much?

He cracked up Why was the Easter bunny upset?

He was having a bad hare day What sport are the eggs good at?

Running

What happened when the Easter Bunny met the rabbit of his dreams?

They lived hoppily ever after

It’s been nice gnawing you

What music does the Easter bunny like?

Hip hop

What day does an Easter egg hate the most?

Fry-day

Robins fixtures for the coming season THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

DATE

OPPONENTS COMP.

H/A

APRIL Thu 11 Mon 15 Thu 18 Fri 19 Mon 22 Thu 25 Mon 29

Belle Vue Wolverhampton Poole Poole Ipswich Ipswich King’s Lynn

Premiership Premiership Premiership Supporters Cup Premiership Supporters Cup Premiership Supporters Cup Premiership Supporters Cup Premiership Supporters Cup

HOME Away HOME Away HOME Away Away

MAY Mon 06 Thu 09 Mon 20 Mon 27 Mon 27

Peterborough King’s Lynn Belle Vue Poole (11.30am) Poole (7.30pm)

Premiership Premiership Supporters Cup Premiership Premiership Premiership

HOME HOME Away Away HOME

JUNE Thu 06 Thu 13 Thu 20 Thu 27

King’s Lynn Ipswich Peterborough Ipswich

Premiership Premiership Premiership Premiership

HOME Away Away HOME

JULY Mon 01 Mon 08 Thu 11 Thu 18 Thu 25

King’s Lynn Wolverhampton King’s Lynn Wolverhampton Belle Vue

Premiership Premiership Premiership Premiership Premiership

Away Away HOME HOME HOME

AUGUST Thu 08 Mon 12 Thu 15 Mon 19 Mon 26 Thu 29

Wolverhampton Belle Vue Ipswich Poole Ipswich Peterborough

Premiership Premiership Premiership Premiership Premiership Premiership

HOME Away Away Away HOME HOME

SEPTEMBER Thu 05 Mon 16 Thu 19

Peterborough King’s Lynn Poole

Premiership Premiership Premiership

Away Away HOME

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Safety reminder to people living in thatched properties

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people living in thatched properties to take every precaution against fire.

It follows two recent serious fires involving thatched homes – in Netheravon and Cranborne – which each needed well over 75 firefighters to tackle.

neys can deteriorate to the point where smoke and hot gases can escape into the upper rooms, the roof space or directly into the thatch.

Extinguishing such fires is difficult, as thatch is designed to repel water; as such, firefighters have to physically remove the roofing material to get to the source of the blaze.

While there is no increased risk of fire within a thatched property, the impact of a fire is far greater. The National Society of Master Thatchers estimates that the average cost of a thatch fire is in excess of £45,000.

Group Manager Tim Gray said: “More often than not, once fire is discovered in a thatched roof, it has already taken hold and the chances of firefighters being able to control it are minimal.

Over 90% of thatch roof fires start as a result of a faulty flue or chimney – old or poorly maintained chim-

It’s therefore vital that you do all you can to prevent fire from starting in the first place, and make sure your

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insurance is up-to-date, remembering to check both your contents and buildings policies.” He added: “Most insurers will have requirements before they agree to provide cover, so it’s imperative that you do all they ask. For example, some make it part of your policy to have a garden hose on standby, or state how often spark arrestors need to be cleaned, or determine what size the flue outlet should be.

If the worst does happen, firefighters will salvage as many of your possessions as they can, so be clear on where particularly valuable or sentimental items are so you can help crews to help you.”

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Other top tips include: •

•

Ensure that any alterations, construction, electrical or gas work to your property is carried out by a registered engineer.

Sweep your chimney at least twice a year – in autumn and early spring.

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Keep your chimney in good working order, for example by fitting a bird guard to prevent birds from nesting and blocking the flue.

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If you have an open fire or wood burner, only burn seasoned or kilndried wood which has

been stored in a dry, airy place.

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The moisture content of the wood should be below 20%, and this can be checked by using a moisture sensing probe.

•

Don’t burn any other waste material, as stoves aren’t designed for this and it can lead to blocked chimneys or flues.

People living in thatched properties can request a free Safe and Well visit from the fire and rescue service, to help identify potential risks. To make a request, or for further safety advice, visit www.dwfire.org.uk/ safety

Tesco warning customers about fake grocery orders scam Tesco said: “A number of customers have reported receiving a phishing email regarding a Tesco Grocery Home Shopping order they haven’t placed.

“If you think you’ve been sent one, it’s vital you don’t provide any personal details.

Supermarket giant Tesco has sent out a warning to its customers who have reported receiving emails claiming to be the supermarket but are in fact from scammers.

The emails sent are in relation to an online grocery order that was never actually made by the customer.

Posting on their official Twitter page,

We will always investigate reports of phishing emails, please forward them to phishing@tesco.com” The tweet also links to Tesco’s anti-fraud page where there are tips on how to spot a fraudulent email.

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Wiltshire’s war on knives

Assistant Chief Constable, Gavin Williams, has penned an open letter to the communities of the county detailing what Wiltshire Police are doing to tackle the rise of knife crime.

This week we are pleased to be joining 44 other police forces from across the country as part of the national knife crime week of action and awareness campaign, Operation Sceptre.

Over the last year we have all watched with horror as the number of incidents of knife crime across the county have risen, with offences involving a knife or sharp instrument rising nationally by eight per cent.

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I am pleased to say that Wiltshire continues to be one of the safest places in the country to live, and I am happy to tell you that we are not following the same trend when it comes to knife crime – we even saw a decrease of 18 per cent from September 2017 to September 2018.

However, I know these statistics may not be as reassuring as they should be to the communities of Trowbridge and Swindon in particular, where incidents of knife crime have been reported in recent weeks.

These incidents can devastate the lives of young people, their families and friends, and the shockwaves

of such horrific crimes in our often close knit communities can be felt far and wide.

We are committed to robustly tackling knife crime, and I hope the message will be received loud and clear when I say that using a knife or sharp instrument to threaten or harm someone will not be tolerated in our county.

If you are caught with a knife in a public place and do not have a lawful reason for having it, you will be arrested.

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

You could receive a sentence of up to four years for just carrying a knife or if you are involved in an incident where a knife is used, the prison sentence could be much longer.

But as a police officer, member of our community and a parent myself to three young children, I will not be complacent in my approach or my ambition to remove knife crime from our county.

it is an approach we all need to take. Criminalising young people is never something we want to do but if your child sets off to school in the morning with a knife in their bag, they are at risk.

It is easy to say knife crime is a police problem. But it is not as straightforward as that. Tackling knife crime is a police priority but it is a community problem. One that we can only solve by parents, schools, the NHS and our communities working together.

This week as part of Op Sceptre, you will be reminded about what you can do to tackle knife crime.

Steps that may seem small but could make a huge difference. Check your child’s bags, know what’s in your knife drawer, and have a conversation with your child about the very serious consequences of carrying a knife.

By taking action and by talking about the subject we can raise awareness and educate our communities about the risks and consequences of knife crime.

As part of this community, I need to be able to count on you to support us in this fight against knife crime.

I know that most people don’t carry a knife and would never use a knife to hurt someone else.

You may think these actions are a little extreme and don’t apply to you and your family. However if we are going to tackle knife crime,

Knife crime can have a devastating impact on a community, a family and an individual – let’s work together to stop it and protect lives.

Yours faithfully, Gavin WilliamsAssistant Chief Constable

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EASTER QUIZ

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

1. Does Easter fall on the same dates every year?

2. How many days does Lent last for?

3. How was Jesus fastened to the cross?

4. What happened to Jesus on Easter Sunday?

5. Which ‘Friday’ commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus?

6. What type of furry animal is linked to Easter time?

7. Which types of flower are traditionally exchanged on Easter Day? 8. At the Last Supper, what food did Jesus liken to his body?

9. What came first, Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection or the Last Supper?

10. What sweet objects are commonly ‘hunted’ by children at Easter time?

1. No – it’s a moveable feast 2. 40 days 3. With nails through his hands and feet 4. He rose from the dead 24 5. Good Friday 6. Bunny 7. Easter Lilly 8. Bread 9. The Last Supper 10. Chocolate Eggs

Want to get in touch with your customers in 2019 THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

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THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Community NEWS

Town Gardens The Town Gardens, together with Queen’s Park, is due to be transferred to South Swindon Parish Council on 1st April on a 99-year lease.

The Parish Council believes this is the best way to protect and enhance the park for future generations.

Chair of Leisure & Amenities, Neil Hopkins said, “The Parish Council will be reviewing planting and maintenance, and a major project to be commenced this year should include the professional restoration of the main gates giving access to Quarry Road (grade II listed) and Westlecot Road and the pedestrian gates onto Quarry Road and leading to Goddard Avenue.

Looking further ahead, the renovation of the Art Deco Bowl is also under consideration.”

Changes to Residents Parking Zones N & L (Lethbridge Road and Springfield Road areas) Representation can be made by completing the consultation form which can be found at www.swindon. gov.uk/trafficregulationorders under ‘experimental traffic regulation orders’ reference (H&T/TRO/ Zones N and L) by no later than 11 September 2019.

The requests are as a consequence of a requirement of parking and visibility difficulties encountered on 26

Lethbridge Road around the school, the need for additional residents parking and the upgrade of signs to remove the 5-minute waiting.

Parking SBC parking teams can enforce the blocking of the dropped kerbs with the owner of the property’s permission. Parking enforcement can be contacted on 01793 463772.

Broome Manor Health Club Update The lease agreement is still going through the legal due diligence stage. This should be finalised by Easter. All going well, work on-site should commence in the summer with an opening date planned of September 2020.

Swindon in Bloom Update by Linda Kasmaty - Old Town Residents Association members have been involved with gardening in the Old Town area for at least 6 years, with the idea of making the area look cared for, more colourful and also to involve local residents and achieve a feeling of community. This year South Swindon Parish Council are taking part in Swindon in Bloom.

Richard Beale, one of the Bloom judges came to discuss with some of the Parish

people how we would go about taking on South Swindon in Bloom.

Drug Related Incidents: who to contact Sadly, some incidents of drug-taking behind Goddard Avenue and in the Town Gardens have been reported. We have asked the local police to carry out more patrols in the area. We would encourage people to report all incidents to the police. If you find hypodermic needles or discarded drugs equipment, don’t pick them up but contact the Borough Council at the following link: www.swindon.gov.uk/ forms/form/388/en/report_anti-social_behaviour Out of hours, please call the main Swindon Council number, 01793 445500.

Any local issues, please contact: Jane Milner-Barry, Nadine Watts, Neil Hopkins (parish councillor) & Linda Kasmaty (parish candidate) Old Town & East Wichel Old Town Labour Team Nadine Watts 07595 071381 Jane Milner-Bary 07864 839746 Neil Hopkins 07799 866396

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Kingshill Air Quality At the time of writing this article the Council had just outlined possible ways of addressing the air quality problems at the top of Kingshill Road.

They have approved a plan which sets out various measures to tackle the air quality issue, including a ban of HGVs using Kingshill Road. It is estimated that around 250 HGVs will be affected but these vehicles can be safely accommodated on alternative and better suited routes.

The Council will now be seeking to put a Traffic Regulation Order in place to restrict HGVs on the road as quickly as possible.

The Council have recognised that this only goes some way to addressing the poor air quality in the Kingshill area and more measures will need to be done.

Clifton Street School Update In our last Swindonian article, we mentioned a planning application proposing to demolish the old Clifton Street School and instead erect 10 new flats.

We are delighted to report that Swindon Council have rejected this application.

We hope the developer will now seek to find a solution to the site that is in keeping with its Victorian heritage.

Savernake Street Play Area Refurbishment We are delighted to report that Labour-majority South Swindon Parish Council has agreed to completely refurbish the Savernake Street play area.

The refurbishment will bring new equipment to the play area. For details of the design visit the South Swindon Parish Council website: www.southswindon-pc. gov.uk South Swindon Parish Council Precept We can confirm that Labour-majority South Swindon Parish Council have agreed no precept increase for this year.

Conservative-run Swindon Council have agreed a 4% Council Tax increase We are delighted to be able to freeze the parish element of residents’ Council Taxes

this year while also improve services to residents.

Parish Council Elections On Thursday 2nd May there are Parish Council elections, as well as Borough Council elections.

Labour have been in the majority since South Swindon Parish Council’s first set of elections in 2017. We are proud to have worked with councillors of other political parties to have delivered a huge amount for the people of Eastcott and Old Town.

This includes refurbishing the Old Town library and extended its opening hours, sponsoring the Old Town Festival and the Old Town Christmas Lights switch-on and reducing the cost of allotment plots.

Get in touch with us if you have any views on how the Council can tackle this increasing issue.

Eastcott Labour Team Councillor Paul Dixon, Mobile: 07454 736 769 Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh, Mobile: 07894543786 Councillor Patrick Herring, Phone: 07986994309

Your Labour Eastcott Team campaigned against this application as we believed a solution was possible that saves this important building and respects Swindon’s Victorian heritage.

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TOP 10 FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEACHES IN EUROPE THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

Whether you’re looking for somewhere to relax while the kids play safely alongside you in the sand, or if it’s action-filled aquatic adventures you desire, here’s a collection of Europe’s top 10 favourite beach holiday destinations for families with children of all ages.

Port de Sóller, Majorca, Spain This traditional Majorcan town has a magnificent sandy beach perfect for toddlers.

Travel along the promenade on the tram, take a relaxing stroll or visit one of the many cafés and bars for a cooling ice cream.

There’s also the popular Saturday market where you can pick up pretty souvenirs.

Gerakas Beach, Zakynthos, Greece One of the best places in Zakynthos for kids to swim or paddle, this beach at the southern end of the island is gentle and hence ideal with smaller children.

Wander along the shoreline, taking in the family-friendly atmosphere. In May and June, this

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spot is also home to loggerhead turtles making their way to the beach to nest, while if you’re visiting in July or August, look out for babies hatching and flipflopping back to sea.

Gerakina, Halkadiki, Greece Located at the northern end of the Sithonia peninsula, this 450m stretch of private beach with waiter service will provide you with the luxury of enjoying your favourite tipple while your children play happily in the sand.

The nearby village also offers a wealth of taverns, restaurants, bars and shops.

Caneiros, Algarve, Portugal If your family has a large age gap between the kids, head for Caneiros – you’ll find something for everyone.

With golden sands for your younger children with their bucket and spade, and pedalo and kayak rental for your teenagers, everyone’s a winner.

Meanwhile you can treat yourself to a massage on your sun-lounger as a reward for this perfect find.

Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain Older children and teenagers can enjoy a variety of sports in the crystal-clear water at Ribadesella, including kayaking, surfing and windsurfing.

If you’re visiting in early August, watch more than 1000 canoeists racing down the Sella river from the mountains to Ribadesella and join in with the huge street festival that follows.

Zlatni Rat, Bol, Croatia Repeatedly listed as one of the top seaside destinations in Europe and indeed, the world, Zlatni Rat is a long pebbly beach reaching out into the Adriatic.

With lifeguards on hand during the summer, you can enjoy many activities including windsurfing, paddle-boating, jet-skiing,

snorkelling and paddling with younger children. Rented sunloungers and umbrellas, showers and nearby cafés make this beach ideal for families to make themselves at home.

Barcelona, Spain If you’re looking to combine a beach holiday and a city break, Barcelona should be top of your list.

Golden sands (some in the centre and some further out), water sports, seaside entertainment including drumming and sand art and great seafood restaurants combine with great architecture, museums and shopping to make the Catalan capital a must-visit.

Viareggio, Tuscan Riviera, Italy This family-friendly seaside town boasts heavenly beaches and traditional Italian culture.

The shallow waters are safe for children to paddle in, and older children can try sailing and other water sports. Away from the beach, visit the abundance of restaurants, shops and art galleries on the promenade.

ancient ruins//are also easily Or you could venture evenTHESWINDONIAN.CO.UK APRIL 2019 accessible. further inland to the nearby medieval villages to sample some Been tempted by any of these delicious Italian cuisine. amazing family-friendly beach holidays? Contact me and take Coral Bay, Paphos, Cyprus advantage of exclusive benefits If Cyprus is your destination of including a 24-hour duty office choice, Coral Bay in Paphos is and full financial protection. well suited to families thanks to its shallow waters and soft sand.

Make your next travel arrangements with a knowledgeable, Whether you have young trustworthy and friendly travel children and are simply looking expert. I deliver a personal, for a safe place for them to play professional and bespoke travel while you relax on a sun-lounger, service. or you have adrenaline-charged teenagers who dream of spendContact me: ing hours at sea trying differallan.trinidad@travelcounsellors.com ent water sports, everyone is catered for.

Patara, Turkey Spanning 18km of Turkey’s south-west coast, Patara is a place of natural beauty as the ruins of the nearby ancient city mean it’s not been over-developed. Aside from the white-sand beach and warm waters, bird watching, canoeing and rafting give families the option of alternative activities, and local markets, mountain villages and

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Musical Musings

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

T. S. Eliot wanted us to believe that April is the cruelest month but then he was never spotted down the front of a gig, lost in the rapture that only comes from experiencing a good live band.

Had he done so he might have cheered up a bit and written naughty limericks rather than long, epic poems about cultural depression.

Anyway, enough about him and on with the recommendations…

On 4th April a true rock and roll legend heads to The Victoria.

Blaze Bayley made his name singing with Wolfsbane, was elevated to global heights fronting Iron Maiden for half a decade and now with metal stalwarts Absolva as his musical vehicle, tours the world spreading incendiary, classic rock vibes to the metal massive.

with Dave Franklin

Those faithful to a more punk ethic will be heading to Level III on the 6th for Dirt Box Disco. Mixing core punk values - attitude, rebellion, outsiderness - with infectious hooks and singalong choruses, they stand with one foot in the punk creation myth and the other striding confidently into a bright new future.

For a real change of pace you should check out Richard Wileman at The Tuppenny on 14th at their new Sunday Session.

Best known for making masterful albums that mix prog, film score, 60’s vibes and space rock as Karda Estra, his solo shows boil such songs down to their very essence and delivers them deftly through just guitar, clarinet and vocals.

Between 18th-21st The Victoria hosts its annual Vic Fest, this year geared towards a celebration of all things rock and indie and featuring not only local favourites such as Getrz, Harlers, Ghost of Machines and All Ears Avow but bringing in some cool bands from out of the area such as the mathy delights of Let’s Swim, Get Swimming, the genre-hopping contagion of The Compact Pussycat and the short, sharp punk shot of Brightlight City.

The 18th also sees a couple of great gigs go head to head elsewhere. Those who favour reggae, ska and rocksteady sounds will find The Erin Bardwell Collective at The Beehive delivering everything that they need, whilst those looking for something with a more

Americana twang should head to The Tuppenny for Larkham and Hall. Finally proving old Mr Eliot wrong yet again and seeing the month end with a bang not a whimper. Levellers front man Mark Chadwick at Level III on 28th round things off perfectly.

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Stage Coach

THESWINDONIAN.CO.UK // APRIL 2019

With Ben Thomas

The 2019 Swindon Fringe (or “Swinge” if you’re cutting back on syllables for Lent) returns 5th to 14th April.

It’s a ten-day cultural explosion spread across a number of local venues; including Artsite, The Victoria and Swindon Dance Studios.

Discerning punters will be treated to a high-quality cavalcade comedy, drama, music and new writing with more than a soupçon of the surprising guaranteed.

There are too many shows to list here but one particular highlight is likely to be the return of Rob Gee, ex-psychiatric nurse, comedian and poet, in his third visit to the Swinge.

His new one-man show, ‘Death – a Romantic 34

Comedy’, will be gracing the last night of the Swindon Fringe in a double-bill with Tina Senderholm with a performance of her bittersweet mixture of memoir, comedy and poetry: ‘You is Beautiful’.

More details can be found on the Swinge website: www.swindonfringefestival.com.

Away from the delights of the Swindon Fringe the people who brought us ‘Horrible Histories’ are presenting two children’s shows for the price of one at the Wyvern Theatre 3rd – 7th April: ‘Terrible Tudors’ and ‘Awful Egyptians’.

Presented in “3D Bogglevision” no less.

Prepare to be transported back to simpler times when decapitation, plague and having your brain pulled out through your nose

were considered wholesome pastimes.

Finally, something allegedly quirky and compelling (not unlike the writer of this article): ‘The Library of Lost Memories’ at the Swindon Art Centre on 24th April.

Two well-meaning librarians are sent to organise and file an old man’s forgotten memories. Presented by ‘Shoebox Theatre (no, not the Swindon one, this lot are from “Somerset”, wherever that is) a humorous and poignant exploration of dementia is promised.

That’s surely enough to keep you all busy in April, surely? All that and Easter as well. Sure as eggs is eggs.

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Easter barnes Holdiays! beaulieu: national motor museum Mon 8th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £41.00* Child Ticket: £26.00*

raf cosford museum Mon 8th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £25.00 Child Ticket: £14.00

bognor regis Wed 10th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £23.00 Child Ticket: £14.00

legoland discovery centre Mon 15th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £21.00 Child Ticket: £14.00

ironbridge & blits hill victorian town

Mon 8th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £25.00 Child Ticket: £14.00

portsmouth: historic dockyard Tue 9th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £21.00 Child Ticket: £14.00

imperial war museum, london Wed 10th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £22.00 Child Ticket: £14.00

brisol zoo Thu 18th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £26.00* Child Ticket: £19.00*

sea life centre Mon 15th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £21.00 Child Ticket: £14.00

berkeley Castle Wed 17th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £29.00* Child Ticket: £24.00*

stonehenge & salisbury Mon 15th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £16.00 Child Ticket: £12.00

legoland windsor resort Thu 18th April 2019 Adult Ticket: £62.00* Child Ticket: £56.00*

view our full list of excursions on our website OR request a free copy of our day trip leaflet!

01793 821303 | travel@barnescoaches.co.uk www.barnescoaches.co.uk

Tours marked with an * include admission