Archive
-
Date
Exam inquiry is not enough
FEW people will be reassured by Education Secretary Estelle Morris's promise of an inquiry into the award of A-level grades. Particulalry worrying are the revelations that massaging of results happens almost every year. The practice must stop. It is not
-
Date
Eagle Eyed Coppell Here to Help
STEVE COPPELL is relishing the chance to help reverse Town's fortunes but insists he has no interest in elbowing Andy King out of the manager's seat. The former Crystal Palace and Brentford boss led his first Town training session yesterday and wasted
-
Date
Arrests made in drugs raid
POLICE arrested 12 people in the biggest drugs raid for two years. Officers pounced on 13 houses in Chippenham, Corsham, Calne and Devizes at 7am on Thursday morning. Operation Claire has been planned for the last nine months and £700-worth of heroin
-
Date
Farmers hope to halt flow of milk
FARMERS were hoping to disrupt milk supplies across the Swindon area when they blockaded a dairy last night (Thursday). Highworth dairy farmer Guy Dibble, 42, was among those blocking the Dairy Crest Plant at Severnside, near Stroud in Gloucestershire
-
Date
Service with a smile wins
SAFECLEAN franchisee Robert Barton cleaned up at the company's business awards after scooping the prized customer commitment award. Robert Barton, whose patch includes Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury and Melksham, was named as the franchisee who
-
Date
Fair is just the job
A STRONG tradition of success at the Wiltshire Times Job Fair was upheld on Thursday with hundreds of people turning out to find out about new work opportunities in the area. The event, held annually and now in its sixth year, attracted more than 30 employers
-
Date
Economy to benefit from plan
DEVELOPER Foinavon claims its proposals for the redevelopment of the Ushers site in Trowbridge will reap huge economic rewards for the town. The firm, which is redeveloping the brewery and bottling plant sites, said findings by a consultancy firm show
-
Date
Crystal clear
TRAIN operator First Great Western's new guide to services has been officially recognised as clear and easy to understand by the Plain English Campaign. The guide, which includes the winter timetable from September 29 to January 10, now carries the coveted
-
Date
Dairy plant sets new standards
THE country's largest dairy plant is setting new standards in the processing of milk. The factory is one of the most modern plants of its kind in Europe and is now processing more than 1m litres of milk a day. It is owned by farmers across the west who
-
Date
Long service awards for the long arm of the law
TWO west Wiltshire police inspectors who joined the force in the same year have been presented with long service and good conduct medals. Insp Geoff Miles, section head of Warminster and Westbury and Insp Jon Tapper, section head of Trowbridge, received
-
Date
Stage group needs you
PANTOMIME fans in Westbury will be treated to Cinderella when the town's White Horse Theatre Company returns to the stage. The group, fresh from the success of Hay Fever at Frome's Memorial Theatre, is now looking for people to join its team for the festive
-
Date
Date set for poll
A BY-ELECTION has been called in Westbury to fill the town and district council vacancies following the death of Councillor John Annetts, who died in July, aged 68. There will be elections for both seats in the town on October 17. Potential candidates
-
Date
Man fined over pub assaults
A BLUE CIRCLE quarryman assaulted two drinkers at a Westbury pub as a fight threatened to break out over an affair. Patrick Bristow, of Windsor Drive, Westbury, told magistrates he attacked Mark Young in the Ludlow Arms in an attempt to stop a fight.
-
Date
Beanacre just beaten
Beanacre entertained Burbage and ER in a rearranged game in Division One of the Wiltshire League and lost narrowly by one wicket. Beanacre were dismissed for 147 with Nick Cook taking 4-45 in 9.2 overs and Terry Strong 3-13 in six as John Adcock hit a
-
Date
Toy library brings fun play to families
A VOLUNTEER-RUN toy library will open its doors in Melksham later this month. Providing children and carers with a wide range of rented toys, games and puzzles, the library is being run by members of the Wiltshire Pre-School Learning Alliance. With a
-
Date
Have say on traffic scheme
RESIDENTS in Melksham are getting the chance to have their say on £300,000 plans to revitalise the town centre. Controversial traffic calming for Spa Road and King Street and changes to High Street and Church Street are among the plans in the pipeline
-
Date
Melksham youth caf opens at last
ME sufferer Kim Haste, the former Melksham town councillor, was moved to tears when she made her first public appearance for more than a year to open Melksham's new youth caf. Mrs Haste, 40, made the brave step back into the limelight on Saturday, when
-
Date
MENINGITIS FEATURE: What to look for
SPOTTING cases of meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia can be extremely difficult as the symptoms can be similar to those of influenza. Incubation periods can vary but bacterial meningitis has been known to develop within the space of two hours. Most
-
Date
Yoga decision was 'the only right one'
While not wanting to prolong the debate about the decision of my church in Melksham not to allow yoga to be held in its halls, I do want to correct the usual misconceptions that such a matter usually brings to the surface. I want to assure Mr Martino
-
Date
Failed in duty
AS an electrical engineer I am very aware of the dangers of direct contact with electricity and particularly the serious burning effects. The parents and the boy who has suffered from this, in the pub at Bowerhill, have my sympathies. I share their anger
-
Date
Fresh air MP
I read that the newly selected LibDem parliamentary candidate Mr Hames states that "this part of Wiltshire needs a powerful political voice to champion local interests". Obviously he fails to read newspapers, listen to the radio or watch television as
-
Date
Vintage run aids air ambulance
VINTAGE vehicle enthusiast John Pomeroy is setting out in a 65-year-old lorry on September 21 on an 800-mile trek to raise funds for a machine of another era. The enthusiast is driving his 1937 Albion three-ton lorry on the West Coast road run to raise
-
Date
Firefighters' ballot on strike over pay
THE fire brigade has moved one step closer to taking strike action after it was decided to ballot firefighters across Wiltshire and the rest of the country. The National Fire Brigade's Union conference has decided that members should take the decision
-
Date
Action on noisy bikers
ACTION has been taken to stamp out illegal motorbike scrambling at Staverton Marina after complaints by residents. West Wiltshire District Council stepped in after residents complained about the noise generated by bikers using the unofficial track. Officers
-
Date
Join the walk on the plain
A SOLDIER is calling on members of the public to join him on a 75-mile five-day charity walk to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Commandant of Salisbury Plain Training Area, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Norrington-Davies OBE, will begin the charity walk on
-
Date
New planning applications
A NEW dairy unit and an office extension are among recent plans submitted to West Wiltshire District Council. AW Doel and Sons has applied to build a new dairy unit and slurry lagoon at Selves Farm, Forest Lane, Lacock. Viridor Waste Managements wants
-
Date
Teacher's sex abuse charges
RETIRED teacher Peter Hamilton-Leggett was led away from court by detectives moments after facing 32 child sex charges against boys as young as 10. A former science teacher at The Old Ride Preparatory School in Bradford on Avon, 58-year-old Hamilton-Leggett
-
Date
Back to class for excluded
Full-time education should be provided for every pupil excluded from a Wiltshire school by the end of the year. The Government is keen to crack down on street crime and truancy, and now the Department of Education and Skills requires the local education
-
Date
Trowbridge League
THREE of the five new teams hit the goal trail to score emphatic away victories to head Division Three of the Premier Global Ltd-sponsored Trowbridge League. North Bradley Saints have come marching in from the Bath and District League to become the early
-
Date
Concern for AWOL corporal
A WILTSHIRE soldier has gone absent without leave, taking an army issue rifle with him. Corporal Adam Dunne, 32, a soldier based at Bulford Barracks, disappeared with the rifle on Wednesday, September 18. Army officials said he does not pose a risk to
-
Date
Tale of murder
A POWERFUL drama about a man who murdered his wife days after their marriage is to be performed at Warminster library. It was 213 years ago that John Walford was executed for clubbing Jane Shorney to death. Walford was hanged in Somerset at a place still
-
Date
Chill-out plan to deter yobs
CODFORD councillors may set up a chill-out zone in the village to distract would-be vandals. Residents are desperate to halt a wave of destruction in Codford and the chill-out plan is just one idea that has been floated to get wayward youngsters back
-
Date
Police investigating after nightclub brawl
A VIOLENT attack outside Oscars nightclub in Warminster left one man with serious facial injuries. The fight, which involved a gang of 20 men from London and soldiers from the Green Jackets regiment, based in Warminster, broke out in the early hours of
-
Date
Mascot Mark can't wait for his big day out
TROWBRIDGE teenager Mark Birchall will lead his favourite team out in front of millions of television viewers on Sunday. Mark, 13, has been a Blackburn Rovers fan since he was four, sticking with the Lancashire side through thick and thin. Now his dedication
-
Date
Seventh heaven
The introduction of any new Jaguar XJ range opens a fresh chapter in the story of the Jaguar marque. But this latest example, to be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show next week, is the seventh generation and really is a milestone. For more than three decades
-
Date
Phew, this one's a real scorcher
An all too brief test convinced me that just when I thought Audi couldn't possibly come up with something more spectacular to drive they produce the RS 6 Quattro, the fastest road-going example of the marque to reach Britain. Available as a saloon or
-
Date
Micra with magic!
Nissan will be presenting the new generation Micra. It joins the new Primera and strong selling X-TRAIL to spearhead Nissan's resur-gence in Europe. But although the new Micra will be the focus of attention at the Paris show, it won't be the only new
-
Date
Walkers give to charities
WALKERS raising money for children's cancer charities and Bristol Children's Hospital were in Bradford on Avon on Sunday. The fundraisers, who are workers from Lloyds TSB, were taking part in a 130-mile walk from London to Bristol in memory of Anouk Phelps
-
Date
Boy knocked down by car
A 12-YEAR-OLD schoolboy was knocked down during the early morning rush hour on a Bradford on Avon road. Police and paramedics were called to Winsley Road at 8.10am on Thursday when a Peugeot 106 knocked down a St Laurence School pupil, close to the junction
-
Date
Call for changes to hazard crossroads
A NOTORIOUS crossroads will claim a life if traffic improvements are not carried out, a county councillor has warned. The latest plea for changes at Bradford Leigh crossroads comes after a two-vehicle smash last Wednesday. No-one was injured, but residents
-
Date
Teacher's sex abuse charges
RETIRED teacher Peter Hamilton-Leggett was led away from court by detectives moments after facing 32 child sex charges against boys as young as 10. A former science teacher at The Old Ride Preparatory School in Bradford on Avon, 58-year-old Hamilton-Leggett
-
Date
In the picture about responsibility
I WRITE with reference to your Opinion, on page 40 last week, titled Close the loophole. I quote: "Parents are bound to be worried by the latest figures that show how many paedophiles are living in Wiltshire". I would be extremely concerned, in light
-
Date
Action is being taken on town's awful smell
I WRITE re 'Why can't they combat stench?' (Wiltshire Times Letters, September 13). I would like to reassure Mr Steve White that action IS being taken at the highest level. Dr Murrison MP, although invited, was unable to attend a meeting called last week
-
Date
Site could still be saved
Wiltshire County Council is about to cut its provision for nursery education. This is because of a double blunder by the education department. Firstly they underestimated demand for the scheme, and more significantly their population estimates have, in
-
Date
Country logic?
I WAS amused by the letter from an anonymous angler, printed on your letters page on September 13 who is afraid of further legislation when the cruel pastime of hunting with dogs is finally banned. If you follow his logic then no humane laws would ever
-
Date
Profit put before people
I AGREE with the comment of Norman Partridge in his letter of September 13 that the county council is putting profit before people over the relocation of the record office. At the record office Scrutiny Task Group county council officers outlined their
-
Date
Audience wanted
BBC Radio 4 are looking for audiences for a live broadcast of the current affairs programme Any Questions which will be broadcast from Christ Church Parish Church on Friday, September 27. The show will go out live to the nation at 8.02pm and finish at
-
Date
Exam papers sent to be re-marked
SWINDON'S pupils have been hit by the national A-level results crisis. Education Secretary Estelle Morris has ordered an inquiry into A-level marking after claims exam boards lowered pupils' results because too many were set to get high grades. And Peter
-
Date
face of a rapist
THIS is the face of the teenage rapist who attacked a 14-year-old girl in Swindon. Police are hoping the artist's impression will lead them to the attacker. He is described as a dark haired local youth, aged about 17, who was wearing a green hooded top
-
Date
All eyes will be on the seconds
Swindon's 1st XV will not be seeing action this weekend due to a number of injuries and unavailabilities. This gives coaches Binfield and Popowicz a good opportunity to assess the up and coming talent in the 2nd XV when they take on local rivals Cirencester
-
Date
Marine aiming to bomb out Aldermaston
Supermarine will endeavour to open this season's cup run, against Aldermaston, who are one league above them. But if lasts week's game is anything to go by, they must fancy their chances. Even though they will be playing on Berkshire soil. Again, the
-
Date
Mark's Back
Wootton Bassett play host to Oxford Harlequins in the first round of the NPI Cup at Stoneover Lane. Bassett have made three changes to the side defeated by Redingensians last week. Mark Roshier returns to the front row and Taff Lock takes his place on
-
Date
Long service awards for the long arm of the law
TWO west Wiltshire police inspectors who joined the force in the same year have been presented with long service and good conduct medals. Insp Geoff Miles, section head of Warminster and Westbury and Insp Jon Tapper, section head of Trowbridge, received
-
Date
Hidden history revealed as buildings open for one day
VISITORS were able to take a peek into the past when Trowbridge Civic Society opened up four of the town's historic buildings on Saturday. They were able to explore some of the town's hidden heritage in the Blind House and see what it was like with just
-
Date
Crowds pay their respects to skip boss
CROWDS turned out to pay their respects at the funeral of popular Trowbridge skip hire boss Fred Gardner who died suddenly at the age of 50. The horse-drawn funeral procession paused at Mr Gardner's Drynham Lane yard, where he had worked since he was
-
Date
Two panthers seen on verge
TWO black panthers have been spotted on the outskirts of Trowbridge. Two weeks ago, Brian Knight, 62, was driving his mother-in-law home at 11pm when he saw the cat-like animals along Westwood Road. He said: "I had just rounded a bend and my lights shone
-
Date
Great-gran sees attacker get life
BRAVE Trowbridge great-grandmother Lucette Powell has revealed how she could easily have been the second victim of a killer who preyed on elderly people in their own homes. Simon Taylor, 28, of Cardiff, was jailed for life last week after a jury took
-
Date
Town is safe despite rising crime
CRIME figures for Trowbridge reveal nearly a 30 per cent increase in violent crime this summer on the same period last year but police chiefs say the town is still one of the safest areas to live, with a 38 per cent drop in crime in the town centre. For
-
Date
Appeal for witnesses to woman's last hours
POLICE officers piecing together the final hours of fitness fanatic Michelle Shergold have released details of new eyewitness sightings. Detectives say the popular 34-year-old was spotted by passers-by driving her grey Peugeot 106 along Paxcroft Way,
-
Date
Football Fixtures This Weekend
SKURRAYS WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Premier Division: Aldbourne v Corsham Town, Bradford Town v Marlborough Town, Chiseldon Castrol v Devizes Town, Cricklade Town v Westbury United, Melksham Town v Stratton Crosslink, Shrewton United v Biddestone, Trowbridge Town
-
Date
Bassett face unbeaten Wroughton
Match of the day in the Wiltshire League could well be at Ballards Ash, where Wootton Bassett United, last year's junior division champions, take on Wroughton Reserves, who have a 100 per cent record from six games. When the sides met last season honours
-
Date
Supermarine rally round to bring in new troops
Swindon Supermarine have added some new faces to their squad for their visit to Evesham where they will cross swords with former Swindon Town hard man Darren Bullock. The South Marston side have added 17-year-old keeper Paul Titcombe to the squad along
-
Date
It takes courage
Brave great-grandmother Lucette Powell not only fought off the man she feared would kill her, but was prepared to stand up in court and tell her horrific story. She should be applauded. Police are often criticised for their failure to catch the thugs
-
Date
School safety in question
WHEN families send their kids to school they expect them to be safe but time and again horror stories emerge which strike fear into parents everywhere. Now in Bradford on Avon allegations have been made that pupils were sexually abused at the Old Ride
-
Date
Drummer rolls in for demo
A DRUMMER hailed as the best in the world visited Swindon to launched a course for budding Ringo Starrs. Session man Mark Mondesir has worked with luminaries of the jazz world, as well as rock stars such as Jeff Beck. He went to Holmes Music in Faringdon
-
Date
A touch of luxury
The timeless appeal of Colin Chapman's 1957-designed Caterham Seven remains; captivating the imagination of drivers, both on track and road. Today, 45 years after the Seven was first shown at the British Motor Show and 30 years after the handover from
-
Date
September challenge for grey import dealers
specialists in the grey imports market need to work harder than their mainstream colleagues to avoid being left behind in the September rush. Grey import dealers do not have the benefit of a franchise to capitalise on the bumper new car sales and part
-
Date
Star signs can indicate on-the-road behaviour
Any motorist who has ever been involved in a driving accident could find the reason lies in their star sign. The claim is made by insurance broker, People's Choice, which discovered that people born under the sign of Cancer are responsible for more accident
-
Date
OAP died after breaking thigh
A PENSIONER lay for a night with a broken thigh after refusing to allow an ambulance crew to take him to hospital, an inquest heard. Algernon Ireson, 79, died at Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital on March 8 after suffering pneumonia. Four days earlier
-
Date
Speeding figures high on list of bad driving habits
While there are signs that people these days act more responsibly when investing their money, the same cannot, unfortunately, be said when they get behind the wheel of a car. Financial services provider Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS) found that
-
Date
The games that children play
HI-TECH toys can come and go but traditional fun is the name of the game in Swindon's playgrounds. While schools have changed considerably in the past 50 years, break times are still the same and full of children playing football, tig and stick-in-the-mud
-
Date
£1.7m revamp at youth centre
AN APPEAL to modernise and refurbish a youth centre is being launched next week by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire. Legge House in Wroughton is used by schools, church groups and scouts from all over the UK as well as overseas students such as those
-
Date
Fourth op in week for tot
Callum Barrett, the toddler who is allergic to life, last night faced another operation just a week after undergoing three on the same day. The Moredon youngster, who will be two next month, suffers from a rare immune disorder called hypogammaglobulinemia
-
Date
Crowning glory on your wedding day
IF there is any day when a woman can be a princess, it is her wedding day. And a princess is rarely seen without her crown. Our Bride of the Year won't miss out on her chance to shine because Copperbox Ltd, the Peatmoor-based accessory company, is once
-
Date
Fair a paradise for job-seekers
THOUSANDS of people, including some who had travelled from Essex and Hert- fordshire, took a fresh look at their future at the Evening Advertiser career and jobs live exhibition. Within two hours of opening, the day-long event at the Hilton was already
-
Date
MP fights for new legislation on replica guns
MP Julia Drown has joined anti-air gun groups at Westminster to pressurise the government to tighten laws over the possession of replica firearms. Ms Drown, MP for South Swindon, met police representatives and MPs from around the country who came to listen
-
Date
Penniless solicitor is suspended
A penniless solicitor from Swindon who described himself as the Weakest Link for failing to pay compensation to a client has been banned from practising law. Michael Read, 56, was ordered to pay £200 to a customer who was unhappy with his work, the Solicitors
-
Date
Approval given to use topple tester in graveyards
A topple tester is to be used in Swindon to ensure cemetery memorials do not endanger people's lives. The Council will use the £840 device to test the structural stability of the monuments as part of a full survey run by Swindon Services. There has been
-
Date
On the march for their country life
COUNTRYSIDE supporters from Swindon are preparing to join thousands of protesters in London on Sunday. Up to 250,000 people are expected to converge on the capital to defend a way of life that they say is under threat. The Liberty and Livelihood March
-
Date
Blood sweat and fears
As firefighters consider strike action over pay, reporter ALEX EMERY, joined the crew from Westlea for a day to see exactly how they earn their money. With the threat of a national fire strike becoming ever more real, questions have been raised over the
-
Date
Farmers hope to halt flow of milk
FARMERS were hoping to disrupt milk supplies across the Swindon area when they blockaded a dairy last night. Highworth dairy farmer Guy Dibble, 42, was among those blocking the Dairy Crest Plant at Severnside, near Stroud in Gloucestershire. Across the
-
Date
Have your smear test in female surrounds
I WAS interested to read a query under the heading "I've never had a cervical smear" in your Problems Solved section in Saturday's 48 Hours. The writer was given excellent advice but I would like to add a little to it. The women of Swindon are fortunate
-
Date
Ignorance is the problem
I WAS pleased to see that you published a long article about schizophrenia yesterday. There is still so much ignorance about this illness and it cannot be stated too often that sufferers are very unlikely to harm anyone other than themselves. As the charity
-
Date
There are more foxes in towns than the country
Re: 'Who killed cock robin', firstly I would like to know how many farmers keep hens in an old fashioned hen house? Not many! We all know that most hens are condemned to a hellish life as battery hens. Secondly foxes are now urbanised animals, driven
-
Date
low-floor buses are our plan
Like Mrs A Smith (EA, September 17), we want to see every bus in Swindon to be of the easy-access, low-floor type and that is our objective. Unfortunately, unless money is provided from outside sources, being ordinary limited companies operators can only
-
Date
Urban folk will never understand hunting
The letter writer Phi Beavan (Evening Advertiser, September 13) when referring to the popular forthcoming Countryside Alliance march says " a large majority of country folk enjoy animal abuse and cruelty." Where is the actual evidence for such a stupid
-
Date
Cooper Avon Tyres 2nds 17, Trowbridge 2nds 17
COOPER-Avon 2nds hosted a close-fought local derby and led 14-3, thanks to tries from veteran Pete Spooner and 17-year old Luke Brailey. Trowbridge fought back strongly to take the lead 17-14. Trowbridge fought back in the second half with two tries from
-
Date
Weymouth 43, Cooper-Avon Tyres 11
COOPER-AVON were well beaten in their opening Dorset and Wilts Division One game. Weymouth scored two tries in the first five minutes and added a converted try on 15 minutes to lead 17-0. Cooper-Avon then enjoyed a brief period of pressure which saw Russell
-
Date
Corsham 8, Trowbridge 25
TROWBRIDGE started their league campaign with an impressive derby victory. From the start Trowbridge played the game at a frantic pace which starved the home side of any ball in the first 10 minutes of the game, and following a period of fierce rucking
-
Date
Police in search for sex attacker
Police are to quiz pub-goers today (Friday) evening after a woman was subjected to a brutal sex attack in a Chippenham churchyard. The 22-year-old woman was set upon after leaving the busy Rose and Crown pub in the town centre on Friday. It is believed
-
Date
A blight on good name of Swindon
THE vicious attack on Abdi Muse, the 36-year-old Somali who was beaten and apparently robbed in an underpass in the town centre, is an appalling blot on the reputation of Swindon. And it is made worse by the tact that it was the 18th assault against Somalis
-
Date
Second round for site plans
A SECOND round of discussions on developer Charlie Tull's plans for the former GEC site will take place on Monday. Members of the town council planning committee deferred plans for a residential development at their last meeting. The Box-based developer
-
Date
Arrests made in drugs raid
POLICE arrested 12 people in the biggest drugs raid for two years. Officers pounced on 13 houses in Chippenham, Corsham, Calne and Devizes at 7am on Thursday morning. Operation Claire has been planned for the last nine months and £700-worth of heroin
-
Date
Climate to change business
PEOPLE in the business community have been asked to add their views to a study on the impact climate change has been having on the south west's economy, society and environment. Predicted changes for the south west include: a warmer region with temperatures
-
Date
Town centre set to get a face lift
PROPOSALS are being drawn up to improve the centre of Trowbridge and help spruce up Fore Street for shoppers visiting the town. Traders and residents who have said for many years the high street could do with a face lift could soon have their wish. Chris
-
Date
Prepare to be family friendly
SMALL business owners in Wiltshire have been urged to prepare for recent changes brought in by the Employment Act 2002. The Forum of Private Business (FPB) is warning businesses the new provisions will have a major effect on small and medium-sized enterprises
-
Date
Dairy plant sets new standards
THE country's largest dairy plant is setting new standards in the processing of milk. The factory is one of the most modern plants of its kind in Europe and is now processing more than 1m litres of milk a day. It is owned by farmers across the west who
-
Date
Man denies assault charge
A 30-YEAR-OLD Westbury man denied a charge of beating up his girlfriend after a drunken argument. Stephen Bosley, of Campion Close, admitted charges of driving over the legal drink-drive limit, taking a Ford Mondeo without consent, driving without a licence
-
Date
Plans for estate go on show
ENGINEERS are drawing up plans for improvements on the Oldfield Park estate in Westbury. After a meeting in July and a household survey, residents approved a scheme that introduces a 20mph speed limit and speed ramps. Wiltshire County Council and West
-
Date
Westbury charities bring joy to Chernobyl children
OPENING your home to a stranger, even a child, can be a daunting prospect, but that is what many kind-hearted people in west Wiltshire have done and most enjoyed it so much that they can't wait to do it again. Ten youngsters from Belarus, a country still
-
Date
Town choking in extra traffic
WESTBURY is being choked by an extra 19,000 vehicles passing through the town every day. More traffic is travelling through the town along the A350 because of road works on the A36 at Limpley Stoke, creating pollution problems and jams, especially at
-
Date
Couple to swap suburbia for sunshine
A COUPLE from Melksham are preparing to say goodbye to friends and family as they swap their suburban life for the High Commission in Jamaica next month. Paul and Linda Lane, of Birch Grove, Bowerhill, will say their fond farewells at a Caribbean-style
-
Date
The entertainers
THE NEWLY formed Melksham Entertainment Group have unveiled plans for their opening event. Three well-known 60s bands will be coming to the Assembly Hall on January 25, 2003, to mark the official launch of the group. The Four Pennys, Nashville Teens and
-
Date
New clue in robber hunt
DETECTIVES believe the net is closing in on an armed robber who held up a Melksham post office in an early morning raid. A CCTV photo image of a man detectives believe is responsible for the raid on Woodrow Post Office was released this week. A neighbour
-
Date
Suspect caught on camera
POLICE in Melksham hunting a credit card thief have released a security camera image to help track down a suspect. A cricketer had his wallet and credit cards stolen from a sports centre in Westbury on June 22. Officers released security camera footage
-
Date
Second round for site plans
A SECOND round of discussions on developer Charlie Tull's plans for the former GEC site will take place on Monday. Members of the town council planning committee deferred plans for a residential development at their last meeting. The Box-based developer
-
Date
Road needs safety cash
A SCHOOL bus driver believes a child will be killed on a stretch of road in Melksham after a £4,500 scheme to improve a crossing was delayed. Donald Millard said he fears for childrens' safety as they negotiate speeding traffic travelling along Blackmore
-
Date
Couple lose £300 to carpet conmen
POLICE have warned pensioners in Melksham to be vigilant after an elderly couple were duped out of hundreds of pounds by con artists posing as carpet traders. Concerns over an increase in suspicious cold callers in Melksham intensified when Muriel and
-
Date
Village shaken by vicious sex attack
A VICIOUS pervert who sexually attacked a 42-year-old woman in a country lane has shattered a peaceful village community. People living in the village of Broughton Gifford, near Melksham, were rocked when news of the sexual attack broke on Monday night
-
Date
More clarity on cinema
It is with little surprise that I note Mr Hungerford has once again put pen to paper. For his sake I will once more clarify the cinema situation. Local councils actively encourage cinema operators to consider Trowbridge. Prime sites are currently available
-
Date
MENINGITIS FEATURE: What is it?
MENINGITIS is the inflammation of the brain lining. The disease can occur in viral, bacterial or fungal form, the latter is very rare, usually only occurring in people whose immune systems have been severely depressed. Viral meningitis, generally speaking
-
Date
Do not dump problem elsewhere
IN the next few months, Wiltshire County Council will be calling a public 'consultation' meeting at which they will present to residents of Mount Pleasant, New Road, Springfield and Silver Street and the rest of the town their proposal for a one-way system
-
Date
MENINGITIS FEATURE: Three cases in five months
THREE cases of fatal meningitis were recorded in Melksham within a five-month period sparking fears of an outbreak. As residents were battling to cope with the tragic death of Kieran Smith in October, they were hit with a second bombshell in March when
-
Date
MENINGITIS FEATURE: Parents warn others
GRIEVING Melksham parents Sue and Michael Smith are preparing to mark the first anniversary of their son's death. Popular 20-year-old electrician Kieran had his whole life ahead of him when he was cruelly struck down by meningococcal septicaemia last
-
Date
Nationwide ups the ante
FINANCIAL giant Nationwide is stepping up the current accounts battle by offering a higher interest account. From November, the Old Town-based building society is opening FlexAccount, which will pay 25 times more credit interest than that offered on an
-
Date
Dairy plant sets new standards
THE country's largest dairy plant is setting new standards in the processing of milk. The factory is one of the most modern plants of its kind in Europe and is now processing more than 1m litres of milk a day. It is owned by farmers across the west who
-
Date
MP issues pledge on hospitals
THE long-term future of five community hospitals has been boosted by west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison's vow to keep health chiefs true to their promises. Speaking as a series of public meetings are about to begin, Dr Murrison promised to ensure pledges
-
Date
Coffee morning will be instant hit
PREPARATIONS have begun for the World's Biggest Coffee Morning being held in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief. Among the venues holding events on September 27 are Sutton Veny Nursing Home, The Angel at Heytesbury, Barters Plant Centre in Chapmanslade and
-
Date
MP visits RUH
PROBLEMS facing the Royal United Hospital in Bath were the subject of a visit to the hospital by west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison on Thursday. Dr Murrison arranged to meet the hospital's new chief executive Jan Filochowski to hear plans in place to improve
-
Date
Cyclists test new route
UP TO 50 cyclists will travel through Wiltshire and Somerset to promote a new cycle and walking route through the two counties. The Trailblazing Ride will start in Bath on Saturday, September 21, travel through Salisbury and finish in Frome on Sunday.
-
Date
Arrests made in drugs raid
POLICE arrested 12 people in the biggest drugs raid for two years. Officers pounced on 13 houses in Chippenham, Corsham, Calne and Devizes at 7am on Thursday morning. Operation Claire has been planned for the last nine months and £700-worth of heroin
-
Date
Lobby for funds
PARENTS, teachers and MPS are being encouraged to lobby government education ministers to secure extra funds for Wiltshire schools. County councillor Angie Barker is pleading with people to write to Education minister Estelle Morris to demand higher budgets
-
Date
Beacons signal start of protest
BEACONS blazed throughout Wiltshire on Monday to herald the Countryside Alliance's Liberty and Livelihood march. Towering bonfires lit up the night sky to publicise the biggest peacetime demonstration this country has ever seen. Coachloads of countryside
-
Date
Surge in young victims of crime
NEW figures released this week show a dramatic increase in the numbers of young people affected by crime. Crimestoppers Youth Crime Survey reveals that up to a quarter of 10 to 15-year-olds in the south west have been a victim of crime or attempted crime
-
Date
It's post-mortem time for luckless Devizes
Devizes Town were left cursing their luck after the Nursteed Road woodwork denied them three times in Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup defeat at the hands of Dr Martens League new boys Taunton Town. Dave Godley twice struck the post and Steve Richardson hit the
-
Date
Trowbridge Town 2, Biddestone 0
A FINE first-half performance was enough to gain all three points and record a second successive 2-0 home victory for Trowbridge. Dave Percival gave Trowbridge the lead after just seven minutes. Tim Waylen provided a pass down the left wing and Percival
-
Date
Long service awards for the long arm of the law
TWO west Wiltshire police inspectors who joined the force in the same year have been presented with long service and good conduct medals. Insp Geoff Miles, section head of Warminster and Westbury and Insp Jon Tapper, section head of Trowbridge, received
-
Date
Musicians of the future take centre stage
YOUNG Warminster musicians delivered a rousing performance at the second annual Lions Club concert. An audience of more than 100 people, including the mayor and president of the chamber of commerce, were entertained by nine youngsters at the Athenaeum
-
Date
Fun day focuses on street
RESIDENTS living in a Warminster street are being asked to attend an open day designed to gauge opinions on future changes to their neighbourhood. People living in Westleigh have been invited to a Home Zone open day on Sunday, September 22, to choose
-
Date
Seven are accused of affray
SEVEN people accused of taking part in a mass brawl outside a Warminster pub have appeared before Trowbridge magistrates. All the charges relate to an incident in the town centre on July 6. Four men and one woman from Manchester were charged after the
-
Date
Plans for town spark concern
COUNCILLORS fear plans to make Warminster more pedestrian-friendly will kill off trade in the town. They are worried about some of the proposals, which they say could inconvenience shoppers and motorists. Wiltshire County Council, in partnership with
-
Date
Join the walk on the plain
A SOLDIER is calling on members of the public to join him on a 75-mile five-day charity walk to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee. Commandant of Salisbury Plain Training Area, Lieutenant Colonel Paul Norrington-Davies OBE, will begin the charity walk on
-
Date
Family forced to live in one room
A DESPERATE mother of two considered killing herself because she can no longer cope with her living conditions. Alison Dunn, 27, lives with her husband, eight-year-old son Shanon and one-year old daughter Christine in a small flat in Hillside hostel,
-
Date
Teacher's sex abuse charges
RETIRED teacher Peter Hamilton-Leggett was led away from court by detectives yesterday moments after facing 32 child sex charges against boys as young as 10. A former science teacher at The Old Ride Preparatory School in Bradford on Avon, 58-year-old
-
Date
Tracy hits the streets
Corrie star Tracy Shaw shows that scooters really are a stylish and efficient way to get around, as she gets on her new Vespa ET2 50cc. Coronation Street's Maxine chose a Pistacchio Vespa, which is a brand new colour (green) and available only during
-
Date
More than 30 years of the XJ
The new XJ is the seventh generation to wear the XJ badge with total production since the first model was introduced in 1968 now comfortably past 800,000 cars, more than half of all Jaguars ever built. The XJ6, first launched in 1968, cost £1,800 for
-
Date
An audience with the agile Audi
The last ever original aluminium-bodied A8 luxury saloon has just left the production line at the state-of-the-art Audi Aluminium Centre in Neckarsulm, Germany. The multi-million Euro facility has now turned its attention to the new Audi A8, which makes
-
Date
On the road to dazzling display
Car makers are all set to wow fans at this year's British International Motor Show, sponsored by The Daily Telegraph. October 23 marks the start of the nation's favourite car-fest as more than 600,000 motoring fans, business people and families pour through
-
Date
Volvo with vroom...
The awesome Volvo S60 R and V70 R will also make their world debut at the Paris show. With 300 bhp of torque, the new R-concept S60 R and V70 R models offer abundant per-formance on demand and the ultimate Volvo driving experience. They are capable of
-
Date
Stars of the show
THE star of the Paris Motor Show next week will undoubtedly be the new BMW Z4 when it makes its world debut. The all-new roadster replaces the extremely successful Z3 model which sold more than 21,800 units since it went on sale in the UK in January 1997
-
Date
Open day helps disabled
An open day at Widbrook Equestrian Centre, Bradford on Avon, in aid of the Riding for the Disabled Association, has raised more than £350. The day included demonstrations by the RDA, dressage to music, stalls, face painting and pony rides.
-
Date
Parents storm over cut-price trousers
ANGRY parents believe teachers at a Bradford on Avon school picked out and humiliated children wearing trousers bought from what the school says is the wrong shop. The extraordinary row broke out at St Laurence School when 11-year-old Kristina Elvin was
-
Date
What do we really need?
WELL done D Gliddon Wiltshire Times letters, September 13) for writing what so many local people are thinking. If West Wiltshire District Council planners refuse permission for the Ushers' site mixed development scheme of large retail/leisure outlets
-
Date
Show was not 'a feminist rant'
I have just had one of the funniest experiences at the Theatre Royal Bath in years when I went to see the The Vagina Monologues on Saturday. Imagine my surprise when I read the review in your paper by the reporter Craig Evry; it made me wonder if he had
-
Date
Non-religious?
Oh dear, what a lot of nonsense your readers have to put up with. Why didn't Mr Lau from Wiltshire Racial Equality (Letters extra, September 13) accept my invitation and attend our inaugural meeting, or visit us at www.communigate.co.uk/wilts/thenonreligiousparty
-
Date
Do animals travel better than this?
WHY is our west coast railway line treated as a branch line? When I was younger I travelled a lot by train. We would have a diesel train with rows of carriages and a big window to look out of. It was a great joy then to travel by train. Today all we get
-
Date
PCs join ceremony
A pair of Swindon police officers travelled to New York to take part in the first anniversary remembrance ceremony of the September 11 terrorist atrocity. Police constables Tim Steed and Mark Sellars joined 340 of their colleagues from around the country
-
Date
Balloon is delayed
Swindon-born David Hempleman Adams' bid to cross the Atlantic in a wicker basket balloon has been delayed again after being given a red light due to bad weather over the Atlantic. David needs to fly before October 15 before the weather window needed closes
-
Date
Leave us in peace
The leader of the Somali community in Swindon has spoken out after a man he knows was beaten senseless and left seriously injured by muggers in the town centre. A MAN left unconscious in intensive care after a beating in a Swindon underpass is the 18th
-
Date
Chippenham ring changes for Swanage
Chippenham have made changes to their first team for Swanage and Wareham in the South West Division 2 league. Stewart Ridsdel, Grant Trewartha, James Barnard are unavailable. Having rattled up nearly 400 points this season, the club is feeling optimistic
-
Date
Briefs thief
A SAUCY thief stole sexy black knickers and a woman's nightdress from a washing line in Trowbridge. The thief struck between midday and 7pm on Monday, whipping the black thongs and night garments from a washing line in Fore Street. Swiping the goods,
-
Date
Wrestlers add to Charlotte's fund
A WRESTLING event in Trowbridge has raised more than £700 for young cancer victim Charlotte Wakeham, despite two of the competitors breaking their ankles. Rampage and Jonny the Body were taking part in a wrestling extravaganza at the Civic Hall in Trowbridge
-
Date
Jubilee parade
TROWBRIDGE sea cadets are holding a Drumhead service and parade in the town on September 28 to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee. The Trowbridge unit, based at TS Achilles in Frome Road, will join with cadets from Bath and Chippenham, and air cadets
-
Date
A prayer of peace
A PEACE vigil is being held in Trowbridge on Saturday, September 21, to mark the UN's World Peace Day, a day of international ceasefire. The vigil will be held in the Peace Garden at the Unitarian Meeting House, Seymour Road. It starts at 10am, culminating
-
Date
Criticism for peace day event
A COUNTY councillor has blasted the authority's involvement in the World Peace Day events to be held in Trowbridge this weekend. Former town mayor Jeff Osborn said that the involvement of the Wiltshire Assembly of Youth, which is overseen by the council
-
Date
Fans ready for a world peace event
REVELLERS will be flocking to Trowbridge on Saturday, September 21, to see top stars from the music world take to the stage. Eighties pop sensation Limahl, former Brookside actress Claire Sweeney and Pop Idol's Jessica Garlick are among the top attractions
-
Date
Newly-weds enjoy match of the day
RUGBY fans Linda Fox and Damon Farrell feared they would miss Bath Rugby's first home game of the season after finding out it clashed with their wedding. But thanks to Virgin Mobile and the club they celebrated their wedding in style after taking over
-
Date
Court campaign
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Trowbridge courthouse are still waiting to see if they have been successful. MP Andrew Murrison has now been told the issue has been raised with the Lord Chancellor. He joined council leader Peter Chalke and then mayor Jeff
-
Date
Bogus callers steal £40 cash
TWO men posing as water board officials duped a 76-year-old woman out of cash on Wednesday. The Steeple Ashton woman answered the door at 2pm to two men pretending to be water board officials carrying out pressure checks on meters. One of the men kept
-
Date
Drunk hits out at his ex
A DRUNKEN attack on a former partner led to a six-month jail sentence for Glaswegian Owen Mullen. The 36-year-old had gone to collect his belongings from his ex-girlfriend's Trowbridge home when the incident took place. The court was told Mullen threatened
-
Date
Frozen embryos case pair in court
A GROUND-breaking legal challenge to save the frozen embryos of Trowbridge woman Natallie Evans was launched in the High Court on Thursday. Miss Evans has joined Lorraine Hadley from Staffs, in the fight to challenge laws that say both parties must consent
-
Date
Fuller returns
Highworth Town have welcomed back Warren Fuller, who has rejoined the club after a short spell with Swindon Supermarine. "He asked if he could rejoin the club and of course we welcomed him back," said manager John Fisher. "We needed another forward and
-
Date
A thrilling passage from book to stage
OCTOBER 1-5: THE book which confirmed E M Forster's status as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century is coming to the stage in Bath. A Passage To India, which gives a thoughtful portrayal of the subtleties of inter-racial relations, is the latest
-
Date
Juniors' tackle test
Fifty anglers competed in the second Chippenham Open Challenge match on Saturday, organised by Chippenham Town Council and Chippenham Town Centre Management Partnership in conjunction with Chippenham Angling Club. Rob's Tackle of Chippenham, donated a
-
Date
Roadster is updated
Since its launch nearly three years ago, the Toyota MR2 Roadster has been praised for its uncompromised driving pleasure and great value for money. The latest version has additional features to enhance safety and driving pleasure, including a six-speed
-
Date
Rally inspires latest 206
The latest Peugeot GTi comes with a 180 bhp engine, making it the most powerful road-going version of the best-selling 206. The 206 GTi 180 has been inspired by the success of Peugeot's World Rally Championship sibling, the 206 WRC, which is dominating
-
Date
Taking care of tyres
BRITISH drivers smear around 90,000 tonnes of tyre rubber each year on roundabouts, bends in the road and approaches to junctions, through fast cornering, late braking and poor tyre maintenance, according to the AA. With UK motorists getting through 50
-
Date
TV wildlife expert speaks out
BUSHY-bearded professor David Bellamy, one of Britain's best-loved wild-life experts, will be the guest speaker at a one-day conference at the Cotswold Water Park next month. David, who is the patron of the park, will be speaking about its future on October
-
Date
Calls to restrict drivers
The majority of experienced drivers 90 per cent according to a poll conducted by the Guild of Experienced Motorists (GEM) believe that new motorists who have just passed their test should have restrictions placed on them during the first year behind the
-
Date
Fruity solution for disused allotments
A community orchard is likely to take the place of disused allotments in Penhill. Swindon councillors on the community, culture and recreation commission have approved plans to use the allotments in Leigh Road for the project. The plan will need the official
-
Date
September challenge for grey import dealers
Specialists in the grey imports market need to work harder than their mainstream colleagues to avoid being left behind in the September rush. Grey import dealers do not have the benefit of a franchise to capitalise on the bumper new car sales and part
-
Date
A model look for Mark, 19
HE's got the looks, he's got the body, and now Swindon's Mark Eteson is one of five UK finalists in an international male modelling competition even though he hadn't even entered it. The 19-year-old had gone along to the English finals of Manhunt International
-
Date
Revamp for 110-year-old rooms
CHANGING rooms at Swindon's oldest swimming baths have re-opened following a £25,000 re-vamp. Work at the 110-year-old Milton Road Health Hydro includes new showers and toilets as well as re-tiling, improved lighting and a fresh lick of paint. The 110
-
Date
Environment is low priority for southerners
Minimising damage to the environment by buying a 'green' car is not a main concern for 80 per cent of people in the south of England, according to research from new-car retailer Virgin Cars. Instead, top concerns for drivers are other drivers driving
-
Date
Maker unveils four more dualfuel firsts
Vauxhall this week unveiled more firsts in the dualfuel field at the Drive 2002 show. The new Vectra 1.8, Astra Coup 1.8, Astra 1.8 litre and Zafira 1.8, all dualfuel versions, were revealed at the important alternative fuel show. The popular 1.8-litre
-
Date
Help is at hand for cat owners
UNWANTED cats and kittens are proving to be such a problem in Swindon that the town's branch of Cats Protection is taking action. Throughout October they will pay the full cost of having a cat neutered, both male and female pets, for people on benefits
-
Date
Dotty system provides better security
The Mighty Dot a new hi-tech vehicle security marking system is to be made available as an accessory by Mitsubishi Motors through its UK dealerships. Able to be fitted on new or used cars, the Mighty Dot is almost impossible to remove, helping to protect
-
Date
Church work is brought into focus
AN OPTICIAN is helping a Swindon church to see through its refurbishment programme. The charitable trust of Haine and Smith bought a baby change unit for St John's Church in Winterbourne Avenue. The unit will be housed in the church's new disabled toilet
-
Date
Daddy's Car is just dandy
n How long have you owned your car? About two years. Why did you buy it? Second childhood I suppose. I've never owned a sports car and wanted to have some fun. And being Scottish and practical, I needed something that had enough room for cases of wine
-
Date
Women walk, jog and run to help cancer charity
A group of Swindon office workers took to the streets of London to raise money for a national cancer charity. Jenny Elsby and 15 colleagues from Heath Lambert Insurance successfully completed the Flora Light Challenge for women to raise money for Macmillan
-
Date
'Let's spend the cash on parks'
PENHILL people want their National Lottery cash to be spent on parks and safe places for their children to play. Yesterday it was announced that Penhill is to get £818,000 of lottery cash to spend on community projects. And shoppers at Penhill's Braydon
-
Date
Register as organ donor by sending forms back to council
RESIDENTS in Swindon are being urged to return two forms to the town's council by the end of October. One is an application to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and the other is the electoral roll registration. Swindon Council has joined forces with UK
-
Date
So, you want to be in the media?
Cre8 studios, Swindon Council's Media Resource Centre, is opening its doors this weekend for young people interested in everything from film making to website design. Based at the Town Hall, in Regent Circus, tomorrow's event, is known Media Circus, and
-
Date
New hostel for young people is set to open
A NEW hostel for vulnerable youngsters is set to open on a north Swindon estate. The hostel, at Silbury Mews, Moredon, is run by Threshold Housing Link and will provide a base for up to six people aged between 16 and 21 to help them integrate into the
-
Date
Free safety checks after fire in house
FIREFIGHTERS are to carry out free safety checks in Rodbourne Cheney following a severe blaze at a semi-detached house. Fire crews were called to a three-storey home in Somerset Road where they found the lower two floors were well alight after flames
-
Date
Thanks for a great indoor street party
ON behalf of the 180 older people who were entertained and welcomed at a fabulous indoor street party last Sunday, I would like to say an enormous thank you to all the members of the Corporate Pensions team at Zurich who made the day very special. Not
-
Date
Bath hoping for right balance
Mike Foley admits Bath Rugby have a tough job ahead of them at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday, but is in no doubt that his team can prove equal to the task. "Northampton have a very physical pack and they play at a fantastic pace," he said. "The speed
-
Date
Dotty dear lacks development
REVIEW: Elizabeth's Last Stand, Ustinov Studio, Bath. Mime artiste Nola Rae makes a welcome return to Bath in this one-woman show about a dotty old dear who imagines she is Elizabeth I. Inept and cack-handed, 'Betty' dithers around in her drab bedsit
-
Date
Top pros help club celebrate open day
THE new season got off to a flying start at Bradford on Avon with the traditional club open day at the new ground. Chris Morgan and Luke Nabarro, professional players from the Bristol Shoguns, shared their playing and training techniques with the Bradford
