Archive
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Another fine old mess
ONCE again it looks as if Swindon Council has got itself in a fine old mess, and this time it's the elderly and disabled who are the victims. Residents at Arthur Bennett Court have every reason to be confused and angry at the shambles which is the concessionary
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Awards are a celebration of village life
VILLAGES in Bath and North East Somerset are being offered the chance to get put on the map with a competition being held to uncover the finest village in England and Wales. The Calor Gas Village of the Year is asking villages, no matter how small, to
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Driving up value of your home
PROPERTY: HAVING a driveway in the Bath area is not only necessary for today's ever increasing car culture, but it is also an enviable commodity. As the city was not built for the car, owning a decent driveway, especially in the city centre, allows you
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Give a bit eggstra to your little ones
IN THE second of our new feature series, Cheapest and Dearest, we take a look at Bath's most and least expensive Easter eggs. Not surprisingly, the Cadbury's Creme Egg which retails at 35p is the region's cheapest chocolate fancy. And, it has to be said
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Godspell unites its young stars
NEXT week sees the classic musical, Godspell, come to the Theatre Royal Bath for the biblical extravaganza's 30th year on the stage. Among the cast are two of Britain's brightest young stars, Jonathan Wilkes and Clare Buckfield. AS A man who lives with
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Watching life pass by
COLUMN: HAVE you ever taken a moment to sit on a public bench and wonder why it's there? The answer of course is easy people. If you enjoy watching life go by, then someone's already done the research for you. So take a minute, park your backside and
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Car passengers risk life and limb without seatbelts
PASSENGERS in Keynsham are the worst offenders for not fastening their seatbelts, according to new figures just released by Avon and Somerset police. Front and back seat passengers from the town came in as the most at risk in a survey that monitored traffic
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Why are we all turning into lardies?
AS Bathonians prepare to tuck into thousands of Easter eggs this weekend, they may wish to consider some worrying research which shows there are more obese people in Bath than ever before. A report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee claims
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Natalie drives to rally summit
MOTORING: BRITAIN'S top female rally driver, Natalie Barratt, made her World Championship debut in a works-prepared Hyundai Accent WRC at the weekend. Natalie competed in the Accent for the first time in the Catalonia Rally, held over the smooth and switchback
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Taxes on business to be 'slashed'
THE Government says it will slash the tax burden on businesses by £150 million a year. Chancellor Gordon Brown is introducing a series of measures, first disclosed in the Pre-Budget Report in November, which is aimed at promoting enterprise and investment
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Solicitors in the modern mould
THE Swindon staff of solicitors Thring Townsend have moved from two main buildings in Old Town to a purpose built £2.2 million office development at Drakes Meadow, Greenbridge. A new feature for the firm will be totally open plan offices for all 140 staff
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It's a crime
ROBERT Taylour (Letters, March 19, It is our duty to uphold the law) misses one important fact. UK laws are made by governments and MPs who are elected by us and accountable to us. EU laws are made by commissioners and bureaucrats who are neither elected
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Green query
WILL the candidates for the Borough Council elections in May ensure that Swindon's brownfield sites will be developed first, before any more green fields are taken? The urban capacity study has found enough previously developed land for between 4,000
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Let building commence
THE plan to create a pioneering education campus was the deciding factor in convincing the Government to approve Swindon's private finance initiative (PFI) bid. Schools minister, Baroness Catherine Ashton, said the sheer imagination behind the proposal
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'Jobcentre's assurance was an empty promise'
A REDUNDANT printer says that Swindon Jobcentre's assurance of "doing everything possible" to help 65 people affected by the closure of Romney Packaging was an empty promise. The 35-year-old from Abbey Meads, who did not wish to be named, was left jobless
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Developer scoops a top award
SWINDON developer Bower Mapson has landed a prestigious national building award. The Stanton Fitzwarren based firm was awarded the Daily Express British Housebuilder award 2002 for its sensitive approach to a series of four and five bedroom detached homes
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Officials back at Court to save Town
SWINDON Town officials were today heading to the High Court to take the football club into a second spell of administration. Lawyers led by director Bob Holt were travelling to the capital to initiate Town's rescue plan. Should the court agree to Mr Holt's
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Sutton caught cold by Ciren
Cirencester Town made light work of their heavy Smithsfield Stadium pitch last night, trouncing visiting Sutton Coldfield 4-0. The Dr Martens Western Division game had been in some doubt after Saturday's scheduled clash with Chippenham bit the dust due
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King: don't insult me!
ANDY KING insists he is under no pressure to sell 'at any price' as both administration and the transfer deadline loom large at the County Ground. Despite the desperate financial state of the club Swindon Town are today seeking a second period of administration
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Fidelma to broadcast to nation
A SWINDON voice will be broadcasting to the nation on Radio 2's Wake up to Wogan programme next week. Fidelma Meehan, a member of the Bah' Faith, presents the first of a series of six Pause for Thoughts on the popular show, which attracts around one million
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Join the Race for Life for charity
WOMEN are being invited to take part in Swindon's third Race for Life, raising money for research into cancer. Race for Life is Britain's biggest women-only fundraising event, and this year more than 250,000 women are expected to run at venues all around
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It's Henry on the flag
A HISTORICAL flag featuring King Edward VIII is to be displayed at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery. The flag was salvaged from the rectory of St Mary's Lydiard Tregoze, which is now a school, and was donated by the Friends of Lydiard Tregoze. Swindon
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Can you help John's music hall dream?
PENSIONERS are being invited to attend a trip back in time to the days of the music hall. The event is being organised by Swindon's very own tireless charity worker, John Holmes, proprietor of Holmes Music in Faringdon Road and takes place on Wednesday
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The final frontier
A SWINDON-based research council has played its part in obtaining remarkable new pictures of the final frontier, more than 70 million light years from earth. The Particle, Physics and Astronomy Council (PPARC), based in North Star Avenue, has helped fund
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Released on bail
A man has been released on police bail, pending further inquiries, following the alleged rape of a 35-year-old woman at Swindon Bus Station in the early hours of last Tuesday. A 23-year-old local man was released after questioning at Swindon Central Police
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To hunt, or not to hunt
Fox hunting ended in Scotland this week and the House of Commons is debating whether England and Wales should follow suit. Today MPs from opposing camps North Wiltshire Tory James Gray and South Swindon Labour member Julia Drown argue their cases. FOR
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This Diana Dors lookalike knows how to relax
EVEN professional models need to take time out of the public gaze to recharge the batteries and unwind. So Sharon Maidment, Swindon's very own Diana Dors lookalike, was delighted to open Michael's Holistic Therapy Clinic. The new centre, based in Cunninghams
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Police need backing to stop the lawlessness
THEY say the twin pitfalls of age are garrulity and melancholy. But it is easy to imagine waking with a backache and a stomach making noises like a Ford Prefect trying to start on a cold, damp morning, to imagine that we are sleepwalking our way into
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Pricy drinks
I WOULD be very interested to know why the cost of drinks at the Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, is so exorbitant. Eight drinks, three of which were half glasses of squash, three gin and tonics and two half pints of beer cost us a staggering £18.50. Once bitten
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Parents must show respect
WHAT is happening in far too many of our schools is frightening, and not just for the pupils. Swindon assistant head Phil Baker was today telling his union conference of the time he feared for his safety when confronted by an angry parent. He fears the
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King: don't insult me!
ANDY KING insists he is under no pressure to sell 'at any price' as both administration and the transfer deadline loom large at the County Ground. Despite the desperate financial state of the club Swindon Town are today seeking a second period of administration
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No point in getting in a flab about cellulite
COLUMN: WE LIVE in a puritanical culture where pleasure comes with a huge price tag attatched to it. Now I've grabbed your attention, what I mean is that on the one hand we are encouraged by the Church and State to celebrate festivals such as Christmas
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Mugged with a brown envelope
COLUMN: NOW I really don't wish to alarm you, but I thought you ought to know that I was mugged last week. Despite the promised crackdown on mugging, it seems we simply aren't safe. In fact, we're not even safe in our homes... because that's where I was
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Touch of lavatorial heaven
JEWELS are often under our very noses there just waiting to be appreciated. So quite how the toilets at The Francis Hotel in Bath managed to escape our notice is frankly a mystery. Because these truly are among the lavatorial elite. Considering how many
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Developer scoops a top award
SWINDON developer Bower Mapson has landed a prestigious national building award. The Stanton Fitzwarren based firm was awarded the Daily Express British Housebuilder award 2002 for its sensitive approach to a series of four and five bedroom detached homes
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Daihatsu does it in style with leather
MOTORING: DAIHATSU has launched two leather-trimmed luxury limited editions from its range of compact city cars the Terios Vivid and YRV Lux 50, both available now from dealerships across the UK. As the Terios Vivid's name implies it is certainly eye-catching
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From Yuppie favourite to diesel delight
DRIVE COLUMN: TIME moves on, and so does the Volkwagen Golf. One of the best-known of all model names, the Golf has been among VW's stars for as long as most of us can remember. More than 19 million have been sold over the last 25 years. The Golf's most
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Business leaders unhappy at Consignia closure
LEADERS of a number of Swindon businesses have had urgent talks to discuss the implications of Consignia's decision to close down its parcels and regional distribution centres in South Marston, with the loss of 300 jobs. The closure news came as the company
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It's the way Penhill began
WHEN a road large enough for traffic was built through the Lawns, did the public really believe that it was only intended solely for cyclists and pedestrians? Come on, wake up people! Penhill started exactly in this way. Now look at it! As for the Mechanics
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We don't shy away from difficult issues
There have been several letters from Conservative and Lib Dem councillors and supporters castigating the Labour Party for passing an increase in the council budget of 15.5 per cent. Much of the information given leaves a lot to be desired as far as the
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Two die in M4 crash
TWO people died in a five-car pile-up after a car drove the wrong way along a motorway. The M4's eastbound carriageway was completely blocked following the crash, which happened west of Membury services near Swindon today (Wednesday). Fire crews were
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Cigarette smugglers fail to have sentences reduced
TWO men involved in a £1.25 million smuggling operation in which contraband cigarettes were hidden in a cargo of Christmas baubles have failed to win cuts in their jail terms. Robert Quelch, 53, and John Eaton, 49, helped drive the consignment of 8.2
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Largey bargey
A HUGE 12-ton barge momentarily hovered above the Wilts and Berks Canal before being gracefully lowered into the historic waterway. Contractors from Surrey-based London Water have started work on a two-day project to clear 180 cubic metres of sand and
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Rioting on the streets
There was a riot in Wroughton today but those involved were safe from arrest. They were all volunteers, helping the emergency services train in dealing with public disorder. Wiltshire Police were joined by colleagues from Devon and Cornwall, Dorset, Avon
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Cotswold teams in pole position for North Wessex crown
ALTHOUGH there were a few exceptions, the Kennet and Avon Canal at Little Bedwyn fished well for the fourth round of the North Wessex Winter League. Cotswold anglers got their methods spot on, not only taking first and second team spots on the day, but
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Council travel project slated
ELDERLY and disabled people who rely on taxis to get out and about say they have been left imprisoned in their own homes because Swindon Council has changed the rules of its concessionary travel scheme. Residents at Arthur Bennett Court in Kingshill say
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It's the parents - not just the children
TEACHER Phil Baker says attacks in Swindon's schools are on the rise but pupils aren't the only problem. He claims abusive parents have been responsible for a string of assaults. And today he was recalling his own experiences at a national conference
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Trio seek help for a Highland yomp
FORMER soldier Gregor Grant served in Northern Ireland, Beirut and Bosnia before he was struck down by multiple sclerosis. Now his family and friends hope to help research into the disease by raising £10,000 through an ambitious 'yomp' through the Scottish
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Woman splatted by falling paint
A WOMAN splashed by a falling can of paint in a DIY store is demanding the full price of her ruined jeans and shoes. Angela Oborne says B&Q owes her £75 for designer jeans bought in the USA and £45 for shoes bought in Next. She claims the firm has
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Re-fit for a King
The Kings Arms in Wood Street, Old Town was reopening today after a £250,000 refit. The Arkells-owned hotel has been given a new bar and restaurant as part of its first refit for 30 years. It was being opened by Swindon Mayor David Cox at a lunchtime
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Race equality on the agenda
COUNCILLORS and staff at Swindon Council are to receive anti-discrimination training to counter allegations of institutional racism. An internal inquiry was launched after senior Labour councillor Barrie Thompson questioned the way ethnic minorities were
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Free legal advice on making wills
AGE Concern Swindon has teamed up with local solicitors to offer free advice for senior citizens on making wills. The first session will be at the Pilgrim Centre in Regent Street on Thursday, April 4, with each client offered 20 minutes of advice. The
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Search goes on for Linda
SEVERAL lines of inquiry have been forwarded to detectives after police staged a reconstruction of missing mum Linda Razzell's last known journey. Mum-of-four Linda, 41, of Pentylands, Highworth, was last seen eight days ago after dropping her children
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It's showtime
THE Wyvern Theatre was today throwing open doors that are normally closed to the public by taking part in National Theatre Day. Showgoers whose usual experience of the Wyvern is limited to the auditorium, the foyer, the caf and the bar were welcomed backstage
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Scheme is twice the nuisance!
WE live on the main road in Wroughton between the park and ride and the mini roundabout that users of the scheme will have to negotiate in order to access the site. Imagine our dismay and disbelief when we read (March 21) that drivers from Swindon will
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End cruelty
YOU may have seen the recent NSPCC Full Stop public education campaign, asking people to take more action to help the hidden victims of child cruelty. A new TV ad shows a cartoon child "bouncing back" from abuse until he turns into a real child lying
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Put OAPs on skateboards
MAY I offer a few ideas for reducing council squandering? A 20mph speed limit through the town would ease wear and tear on roads, Croft Road is full of pot holes now. The art gallery modern daubs could be obtained free of charge from any day nursery,
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Thank you for the support
WE are the support act on 21 dates of the Alexander O'Neal tour. It's been a great experience for us, as unsigned artists, and we have gained so much from the tour. As a bit of fun one of the things we do after a show is to give the audience marks out
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Make provision for the children
THERE was a front page story about there being no room in a school for a lot of children. Then on pages 10-11, I read that a lovely building like the convent at the bottom of my garden will be pulled down for housing. What a waste. It doesn't say how
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Not serious enough
MR HUDSON insists that the Liberal Democrats did propose a budget this year (Evening Advertiser, March 11). However, the Liberal Democrats' approach to the budget process suggests they do not take local decision-making seriously. The Conservatives issued
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Swindon's not so bad
RESPONDING to Val Hull and the others, who wrote to the Evening Advertiser (Monday, March 18). I, for one, don't care whether Swindon is a city or not, although I believe it will become one in the future. Swindon opened its arms to people like Val Hull
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Tindall to risk injury
MIKE Tindall is ready to defy medical advice to help keep Bath in the Zurich Premiership. Centre Tindall returned from England duty against Wales at the weekend with sore ribs and has been advised to sit out this weekend's must-win league clash at home
