Archive
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Hopes are pinned on skatepark proposal
GAZETTE & HERALD: SKATEPARK plans took a further tentative step forward last week, when town councillors agreed in principle to return the proposed site back to its owners. The triangle of land at Westmead playing fields in Chippenham is currently
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School wins high praise
GAZETTE & HERALD: Pupils and staff at Hullavington Primary School have been commended for their learning and their love of school life by Ofsted inspectors. The newly published report, which follows an inspection last year, highlights the school's
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Daredevil to set off again
GAZETTE & HERALD: URCHFONT adventurer Jon Duffield says he is prepared to remortgage his home to raise the final cash to take part in the Global Challenge, the most gruelling sailing race in the world. Mr Duffield, from Foxley Fields, has been selected
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Alcoholic avoids jail for family offences
GAZETTE & HERALD: THE family who left their sleeping baby in the care of his alcoholic great-uncle Robert Isaac say they will never forgive him for abandoning their child. Mother Tracy Bridgeman, 20, says she will never let Isaac back into her home
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Patients air concerns
GAZETTE & HERALD: FAMILIES in Chippenham fear they will be left struggling to get a doctor's appointment when Dr Barney Williams' surgery closes tomorrow. MP James Gray has added his concerns to the growing anger about the way the closure has been
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Mother fears sex offender's return
GAZETTE & HERALD: A mother whose 13-year-old daughter was indecently assaulted by paedophile Kenneth Pylle, said she is terrified that he will return to his Chippenham home. Persistent sex offender Pylle, 60, of Hungerdown Lane, was found guilty of
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Swindon is becoming a dynamic town
FOR too long we've been laughed at the butt of jokes in The Office and many other programmes and books. But who's laughing now? Swindon is becoming a dynamic town not just economically but artistically. Jasper Fforde's books have sold thousands, and may
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Fan-tastic!
MARK DEVLIN has told fans they only have to look at Rory Fallon to see what a difference their increased numbers through the County Ground turnstiles have made this season. Town's chief executive revealed that the New Zealand-born striker was only secured
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Court hears of a 'remarkable turnaround'
SHOP A PUSHER - DRUG-addicted Sarah Burgess lost her child, her home and her job when she and her husband became hooked on crack-cocaine, a court heard. Her life became so desperate that the 32-year-old was reduced to stuffing packets of the highly addictive
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Plans in pipeline to demolish town hall
PLANS to demolish Malmesbury Town Hall look set to be submitted by owners North Wiltshire District Council. An unpopular £1.3million proposal to redevelop the building, which would have cut the public space in the town by half, was thrown out by the council's
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Shelter wins big with cash donation
MINETY Youth Action Group was one of the big winners in a £27,024 grant payout by North Wiltshire District Council last week. They were awarded £3,000 towards the cost of installing a youth shelter in the village. Attempted arson at the primary school
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Show of strength boosts Karl's Olympic dream
SALISBURY-based weightlifter Karl Grant's Olympic 2004 dream took a giant step closer to becoming a reality when he triumphed at the UK National Champion-ships at the weekend. The Hanging Langford-based sportsman now heads to the Ukraine in April for
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Help at hand on all topics
The Pewsey Information Point was officially opened last Tuesday. Run by an eight-strong team of volunteers, led by manager Judy Parry, the service was established to offer advice and information on a variety of services. Set up in the offices of Voluntary
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New rector is welcomed
THE new Rector of Pewsey, the Rev Hugh Hoskins, was officially licensed at a special service in St John The Baptist Church on Friday. The church was packed with Pewsey worshippers and local clergy together with a number of Mr Hoskins' friends from his
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Court told baby died after father shook him
A SALISBURY father lost his temper and shook his four-month-old son so hard that the baby died from massive head and chest injuries, similar to those that might be caused by a major car crash, a court heard this week. Joseph Wainwright (27) had been left
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Brazen thief targets 90-year-old woman
POLICE officers have been left shocked by the scare tactics used by a ruthless crook who stole the savings of a 90-year-old Upavon woman. Con men carrying out distraction offences are resorting to more and more outrageous ploys to get their victims to
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Residents protest over sports wall
ANTISOCIAL behaviour by youths in Harnham will cause even more misery to people living in Parsonage Green and around the recreation ground if plans go ahead for a sports wall. This is the claim of residents, who this week handed in a petition to Salisbury
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Land train plan to be opposed
ENGLISH Heritage bosses are to be told by the people of Durrington and Larkhill to rethink their plans for a land train to ferry visitors to the World Heritage site at Stonehenge. The idea has been mooted as part of a scheme to restore Stonehenge to its
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Group fights traffic plan
AN action group has been launched by villagers in the Bourne Valley to fight the Act Parker traffic plan. They fear that if the plan, drawn-up by retired Wilton army officer Graham Parker and backed by the South Wiltshire branch of the Association of
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Hervin's happy at competition
MARK Hervin will be the first to admit that he has had a busy season between the sticks for Chippenham. But Saturday's win over Havant brought his second clean sheet in a row and the goalkeeper is hoping for more of the same. "Havant only really had four
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Newport becoming familiar opponents
CHIPPENHAM come up against a familiar foe this weekend when they entertain Newport County in the Dr Martens Premier Division. Steve White's in-form team have already faced their Welsh counterparts twice this season and have no reason to fear them. In
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We owed fans that vicory says Charity
SIMON Charity's goal against Havant capped a superb comeback week for the player who has been out injured since October. The right wing-back earned praise from his manager for his performance in the 4-0 midweek win over Tiverton and his 47th minute strike
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'We can make play-offs'
BOSS Steve White beleives his team can still make the play-offs to go into the new Conference Two division next season. Chippenham are only four points off the last promotion play-off position. The champions of the Dr Martens Premier will win promotion
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Skate park takes shape
MALMESBURY skateboarders will have a site at the Cartmell Centre to catch air and practise their ollies, grinds and varial flips, it was revealed this week. A skateboard park has always topped polls of the town's youths as the main new leisure activity
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Gypsy plans set for a 'no'
THE gypsies who set up an illegal camp on land at Minety looked set to have their planning application thrown out by district planners last night. Villagers reacted in outrage when the gypsies arrived over a weekend last August and set up 16 caravans
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Council settles out of court
A FORMER Salisbury district council employee, wrongly sacked not once but twice last year, has had her claim for unfair dismissal settled out of court. Maggie Delauncey has been awarded a five-figure sum in compensation after the council accepted "there
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Triple strike sinks hard-working Heath
THREE superb goals put paid to a spirited performance by Bemerton Heath Harlequins in this excellent encounter. The opening exchanges saw both sides creating chances. James Domm in the 'Quins goal was quick to punch away from the eager Paddy James who
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Roger's Saintly duties
Staff picture by Roger Elliott. DA4807P35Respected Sal-isbury referee Roger East was the fourth official at St Mary's on Monday for Saints' friendly clash with Ger-man champions Bayern Munich. The highly entertaining game, played for the inaugural Ted
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Youngsters get their chance through Prince's Trust
Ref. 28832-25TWO young entrepreneurs hope to explode on to the music scene, thanks to the Prince's Trust. Andre Clemmings, 25, and his pal Scott Powell, who recently met through the Trust, have been given a £250 market-testing grant to see if they have
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Stratton's win takes division two title
NORTH WILTS YOUTH LEAGUE: STRATTON Youth under 14s became the second title winners after beating Highworth Town 3-1 to claim the Division Two crown. Following on from Stratton Juniors' triumph in the Under 15 Division, Stratton Youth's victory over their
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Choice will be between savings and services
Council tax will not rise by more than 10.9 per cent next year, Swindon council leader Mike Bawden said this week. Tax hikes of up to 13 per cent had been feared, but Coun Bawden said that the rise could be as little as five per cent, and would definitely
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Plumber raises alarm as flames lick through roof
Householders Barry and Mandy Carter were left devastated when a fire destroyed almost half of the roof of their bungalow. The couple were in the sitting room of their home in Greystones, Bromham, when they were alerted to the fire by a plumber who had
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Shepton Mallett Town 1, Corsham Town 0
SCREWFIX FIRST DIVISION: CORSHAM'S recent good form was brought to a halt when they suffered a shock defeat at basement side Shepton Mallett. Colin Bush's team had numerous chances to take the lead but they were undone by an injury time penalty which
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Teenagers say youth service is on target
A survey of more than 2,600 young people in Wiltshire has shown the county council's youth development service is reaching out to teenagers. The poll of 13 to 16 year olds showed that nearly 25 per cent of young people have had contact with the youth
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Key services that are under threat
Wiltshire County Council has pledged that services such as education, roads and social services will not be cut if it has its budget capped by the Government. But a number of smaller, lower-profile projects could see grants slashed to save money. These
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Budget battle to keep increase at 6 per cent
Wiltshire County Council is preparing to announce its budget which could see council tax bills rising by an average £56 a year. SARAH SINGLETON looks at the harsh choices facing the Tory leadership. The RUH hospital hopper service, arts grants and the
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Wellington 0, Calne Town 2
SCREWFIX FIRST DIVISION: CALNE bounced back from their defeats against Street and Melksham last week with a professional performance at Wellington. A goal in each half from brothers Matt and Ryan Pratley proved enough to earn Kelvin Highmore's side the
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Bideford 4, Devizes Town 1
SCREWFIX PREMIER DIVISION: THE prolific front-line of league leaders Bideford proved too hot to handle for a spirited Devizes Town side. Dave Hopkins' men went in at the break on level terms but it was the Bideford marksmen who stole the show after the
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Friends hit out at plea for proof
THE £5,000 cash on offer to anyone who can prove Linda Razzell is still alive has been slammed as sick by those closest to the missing Highworth mother of four. Linda's estranged husband Glyn was jailed for life for her murder, but his girlfriend has
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Rural bus subsidies threatened with axe
KENNET District Council is being urged to cut £100,000 of subsidies to rural bus services and a similar sum from its wage bill to avoid the "nightmare" of capping by central government. The Devizes-based council was already looking for major savings in
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Objections remain on new college pavilion
TOWN councillors are maintaining their objection to the siting of a new cricket pavilion for Marlborough College even though Kennet District Council has passed one set of plans. The public school's proposal to build the pavilion in a central location
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Party marks first anniversary of march
TO mark the year-long campaign to save the maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, the Gazette is holding a birthday party. In conjunction with DASH2 (Devizes Action to Save Our Hospital) the Gazette is holding a party for children born at both the
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Challenge to health boss on closure plan
PHIL Day, the health boss who is proposing closing Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units, got a grilling from councillors at a recent meeting. Mr Day, director of community services at the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, was told to justify
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Mini-reshuffle among Tories on council
TWO members of Swindon Council have swapped roles in a mini-reshuffle. Deputy leader of the council, Coun Ian Dobie (Con, Haydon Wick) takes over the Social Services brief from Coun Jemima Milton (Con, Chiseldon and Wroughton). And Coun Milton has taken
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Grandmother gets fifth date for operation
GRANDMOTHER Sheila Ladd has been given another day for her operation the fifth date following four cancellations. Mrs Ladd, 67, who lives in Old Walcot, was due to have her bladder operation on January 15, but she was told that Great Western Hospital
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Pot laws: A dopey idea?
Ref. 28819-12From today, if you are caught smoking a cannabis joint in your own home, the police will turn a blind eye. TAMASH LAL asks if it is just a case of the law finally catching up with reality or whether downgrading a 'soft' drug like cannabis
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Friends hit out at plea for proof
THE £5,000 cash on offer to anyone who can prove Linda Razzell is still alive has been slammed as sick by those closest to the missing Highworth mother of four. Linda's estranged husband Glyn was jailed for life for her murder, but his girlfriend has
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Fears over girls' binge drinking
Ref. 28838-53The binge-drinking 'ladette' culture is claiming more lives than ever according to a Swindon health consultant. Dr Tony Pickworth, 41, consultant in the Intensive Care Unit at Swindon's Great Western Hospital, said the number of young women
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Delighted scouts get £5,000 from lottery
THE 1st Cherhill Scouts, Cubs and Beavers love camping, but up until now, a shortage of equipment has meant they've had to take it in turns to visit the great outdoors. All that is about to change however, thanks to an award of nearly £5,000 from the
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Church to introduce guitar and keyboards
ST James' Church, Southbroom, Devizes is launching a new pattern of services which will include informal worship designed to encourage a wider range of people to attend the church. Members of the church's music group will play instruments including keyboard
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Banned driver in a high speed bike chase
BANNED driver Jason Smith of Devizes was involved in a high speed pursuit on a motorcycle with police. The pursuit happened on a dark evening and Smith's motorcycle's lights were not on. The court heard that a police officer was driving on the A342 when
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Priest bids a sad farewell
FATHER Bernard Caszo bid farewell to pupils and staff at St Joseph's RC Primary School in Devizes as he prepares to leave the parish after 15 years. Father Bernard, 70, is taking a sabbatical while he takes stock and decides where his career will take
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Anti-war protester has cheque returned
ANTI-WAR protester Robin Brookes has had his cheque for back taxes made out to a Government peace initiative turned down by the Collector of Taxes in Swindon. Mr Brookes, 49, a self-employed toy designer from Market Lavington, withheld ten per cent of
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Secondary school is awarded top marks
LAVINGTON School has received top marks from school inspectors. The 688-pupil secondary school in Market Lavington was visited by inspectors from Ofsted last November and their report has just been published. It states that, since the previous inspection
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Thief flees from furious granny
DIMINUTIVE grandmother Jean Beauchamp gave a burglar more than he bargained for when he broke in to her Devizes home. Mrs Beauchamp, just under five feet tall and about five and a half stones in weight, had no second thoughts about launching herself at
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Objections remain on new college pavilion
TOWN councillors are maintaining their objection to the siting of a new cricket pavilion for Marlborough College even though Kennet District Council has passed one set of plans. The public school's proposal to build the pavilion in a central location
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Turtle'y awesome
Ref. 12070Little Harry Forbes is so turtle'y keen on helping his marine heroes that he has persuaded his friends and family to shell out for the cause. The five-year-old from Newby Acre, Marlborough, has raised almost £45 for turtle conservation by making
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Town's abortion advice group moves
The Swindon branch of the UK's leading not-for-profit abortion provider has moved to a new location in the town. Bpas' consultation centre has moved from Carfax Street to Dammas Lane, Old Town, and is now open three times a week rather than two. Swindon
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Project set to save old film
Work to develop new methods of digitally restoring archive film footage is being funded by a Swindon research council. The three-year initiative, being carried out at the University of Surrey with funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research
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Keeping out the winter chill
AGE Concern in Swindon has got a free guide for pensioners to keep warm during the freezing temperatures. The Met Office estimates £1 billion damage is caused to homes by bad weather alone, and much could be avoided by taking preventative measures. Age
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Darren's a Cup winner
FOOTBALL fan Darren Tompkins helped to raise £1,000 in a charity auction to meet Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira. The club hosted an auction in aid of ChildLine. Members of the Arsenal Supporters' Club had a chance to have a photo taken with Patrick Vieira
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Mel's chocs prove big hit
Swindon superstar Melinda Messenger delivered a sweet treat down under to contestants of ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. The mother-of-three sent a 'celebrity chest' containing chocolates galore, much to the delight of football hardman Neil
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Mercy crews join the party
Ref. 28821-11Firefighters, paramedics and police officers descended on the Buffer Bear nursery at Swindon's Great Western Hospital. The scene may have looked like something from a disaster movie but in fact it was a day of celebration. The nursery held
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Quiz Warriors scoop Brain of Britain title
PUB quiz fanatics, the Milhous Warriors have celebrated with a pint or two after winning the Brains of Britain title. Captain Tim Westcott, 44, from Westlea, Sean O'Neill, 45, Eric Kilby, 50, both from Old Town and Kevin Ashman, 43, of Winchester, beat
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Little George makes a big difference
RUSKIN Junior School pupil George Taylor's artistic efforts have earned the Prospect Hospice more than £1,000. Eight-year-old George won a competition to design a Christmas card for the Designer Outlet Village in Swindon and ended up helping to raise
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Friends told me of my son's death
THE MOTHER of a heroin user told of her heartache at finding out about his death through his friends. Beatrice Porter, of Copse Avenue, Stratton, criticised the police at an inquest yesterday for not informing her sooner. Wiltshire Constabulary formally
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Get in the swim to raise charity cash
ENTRIES are being sought for a swimathon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief. Thousands of swimmers will be diving in to hundreds of pools across the country to raise money for Macmillan Nurses. In Swindon the Link Centre is taking part and will
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Can you cheer up young Ryan?
LITTLE Ryan Odey found himself in hot water after accidentally leaving his school book bag on the bus. The seven-year-old only realised the navy blue nylon bag was missing when he got off the 1a service from Covingham Hen to Stratton Retail Park on Wednesday
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Mixed view on fee vote
Ref. 28773-12A SWINDON family are dismayed increased university tuition fees are a step closer after the Government scraped a House of Commons victory on the issue. On Tuesday evening the Government won a vote on the second reading of the Higher Education
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Judge and jury
I am disappointed, but not altogether surprised, by the outcome of Swindon Borough Council's meeting on Saturday to decide whether or not to go ahead with the Front Garden development. Let's face it they own 74 per cent of the land and need the money.
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It's time the pendulum of justice swung back again
THE criminal justice system over the last few years has put criminals' rights before the rights of their innocent victims. The list is endless. Burglars claiming compensation from the owner of the property if he is over zealous in protecting his family
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Two visits and ten council vans later
ON the afternoon of Thursday January 22 I had occasion to visit the Broad Green Community Centre and upon arrival I found that there were four unattended council vans in the car park. When I left, some two hours later, three of these vans were still parked
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What a load of empty nonsense
DID the council put the bus fares up to pay for the empty park and ride nonsense? If they had drained the field by the river on the opposite side of the road and made a car park, people could have walked a few yards to the bus stop and caught the ordinary
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Musical fun
I WRITE in praise of Marden House (Calne) Recitals. For a modest outlay of £7.50 each my friends and I spend pleasant Sunday afternoons enjoying beautiful music played by top-notch musicians, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Marden House is a lovely
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Tax queries
I CANNOT form an opinion about local income tax (letters, Derek Parker, January 22) when so many of my questions remain unanswered. Will the local authority be responsible for collecting this tax and if so, who within this authority will have access to
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Danny braced for le crunch
BATH skipper Danny Grewcock has labelled Saturday's Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final, second leg clash with Beziers as his side's biggest game of the season. The Zurich Premiership leaders trail by 24-19 after last weekend's first leg and the England
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Repairs cost
I AM a widower and pensioner and over the last few years have had my car vandalised outside my house or in the neighbouring area on several occasions. I understand that on one of the recent occasions a teenager was responsible. Why can't his parents be
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It's puzzling
WHEN Kennet councillors debated the proposals for the Northgate scheme, Guardian councillor Tony Duck is on record as having voted with the Conservatives in favour of the plan. I voted against it as it was obvious to me that Devizes needs more retail
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Axe the tax
It is obscene that a pensioner couple in this area with very modest savings can pay more council tax than Mr Blair is liable for on 10 Downing Street. Two letters last week highlighted the unfairness of the council tax. Mr Davie made the point that the
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Two authorities need cap on council tax
I WOULD refer to the statement by the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, at the Labour Party conference last autumn and recent comments in the press attributed to yourself, regarding proposals to "cap" local authorities imposing severe increases in
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Traffic chaos should ease
GAZETTE & HERALD: Traffic lights are currently causing exasperation for many drivers in Chippenham but it will get better in the coming weeks, said Wiltshire County Council. Last week, drivers trying to get to Monkton Park, Chippenham station and
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Police could be helped with CCTV cameras
YOUR article (Gazette, January 8) featuring Sergeant Andy Peach has prompted me to write. We are being urged to do more to help the police and certainly they need some help. The week before we read about a man saved by his friends in an unwarranted attack
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Brawlers are bound over
GAZETTE & HERALD: TWO men were bound over for breaching the peace in a drunken brawl at Chippenham's Cappadocia takeaway restaurant on Christmas Eve. Michael Crook, of Greenway Park, Chippenham, and Ashley Davis, of Church View, Chippenham admitted
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'We are so grateful'
GAZETTE & HERALD: A £700 grant from the Meningitis Trust will allow two-year-old meningitis survivor Lauren Booth to increase her mobility and strength. Debbie WAite spoke to Lauren's mother. MENINGITIS victim Lauren Booth is now whizzing about on
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Disabled man fined over use of cannabis
GAZETTE & HERALD: DISABLED Michael Webb, who suffers from crippling back pain, has vowed to continue using cannabis, despite his conviction for possessing the banned drug on Monday. The 44-year-old twisted his spine in an accident 12 years ago, when
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Man kicked student after drinking binge
GAZETTE & HERALD: BARBER Daniel Ryan punched a teenage student to the ground and then kicked him in the head, a court heard. The attack took place within 15 feet of a police officer who was following Ryan and another man after they had been asked
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Lives being ruined by alcohol
IT is shocking to hear from Intensive Care Unit consultant Tony Pickworth of how alcohol is robbing young women of their lives. Smoking, obesity and the scourge of drugs are the subjects of high profile campaigns, but drinking only seems to get the Government's
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Villagers hit small screen
RESIDENTS of Colerne saw themselves on screen on Saturday night, when a Japanese TV programme about life in their community was shown. The 30-minute video made by the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation was shown nationally in Japan in November and was
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Council tax goes through the roof
COUNCIL tax is soon to be decided by the councils of all types but householders can only hold their breaths and pray the increase will not be too huge. The Government is threatening to cap any council that pushes their spending budget too far but even
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Charging from crisis to crisis
ONCE again the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust is in a state of disarray. Just days before Jan Stubbings the chief executive of Swindon Primary Care Trust was due to take on the dual role of running both authorities three non-executive directors
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Shooting back into the past
Ref. 12009GAZETTE & HERALD: Film makers invaded Hartham Park last week to shoot a duelling scene as part of a historical documentary programme. Crews set up at the mansion in Corsham to film extracts for The Life and Influence of Joseph Manton on
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Driver never saw rider
A DRIVER who turned his car into the path of a motorcyclist on a Cotswold road told police he "never saw" the approaching rider until it was too late, an inquest heard. Following the collision at the junction of the A436 and A435 near Andoversford, Cheltenham
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Three resign from trust
THREE of the five non-executive directors of Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust have resigned as the trust attempts to reach agreement with Swindon Primary Care Trust to take over the running of it. The resignations of Chris Wheeler and Ken
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Construction gear is stolen
A LORRY and builders' equipment to a total value of £36,000 have been stolen from a building site in Bottlesford between midnight on Friday and 6am on Saturday. WPC Nikki Burt at Pewsey police station would like to hear from anyone who saw suspicious
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Special accolade for one brave little girl
Brownie Peg Davison proudly shows off her Star of Merit, one of Girlguiding UK's highest accolades. Picture: ROGER ELLIOTT DA4727P1A NINE-YEAR-OLD Salisbury girl who demonstrated courage through the most difficult of circumstances has received one of
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High Court to rule on organ cases
PARENTS who discovered their dead babies' organs were removed without consent have taken their cases to the High Court in a bid to get justice. Salisbury couple Mr and Mrs Smith (who do not want to be identified) were finally told their son Andrew had
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Infants enjoy tai chi lessons
Simon Mathias teaches tai chi to pupils. DA4768P8A NEW lesson has been introduced to pupils at Amesbury Infants' School and it is proving popular. Parent Simon Mathias, a devotee of tai chi, has started a fortnightly session for youngsters at the school
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Roof damaged in blaze
FIREFIGHTERS from Amesbury and Ludgershall were called to Somme Road, Perham Down, on Saturday afternoon, following a report of an outbuilding on fire. Crews arrived on the scene shortly after 4.40pm, to find the roof of the single-storey derelict building
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Tidworth's future uncovered in plan
A BLUEPRINT setting out a vision for the Tidworth community for the next 30 years has just been published. The Tidworth Community Plan has been produced from ideas put forward by the community during a series of consultations in the Tidworth area and
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Teachers brush up on art skills
Teachers Eric Davey, Paul Woodhouse and Debbie Costema help paint the murals at Kiwi School, Bulford. DA4758A MURAL depicting Stonehenge has livened up the staircase at the Kiwi Primary School, Bulford Camp. The mural is the result of the Participatory
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Three is the magic number
ELLIS Wilmot is thriving in his new role as one third of Chippenham's midfield engine room. Since manager Steve White changed the side to a 3-5-2 formation the Bluebirds have looked far more solid and no more so than in midfield. Wilmot put in another
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Youngster is fans' darling
STRIKER James Constable put in another all-action performance on Saturday and is fast establishing himself as the darling of Hardenhuish Park. Not content with bagging a hat-trick at Tiverton in midweek Constable scored a goal, won a penalty and was involved
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Challenge to health boss on closure plan
PHIL Day, the health boss who is proposing closing Devizes and Malmesbury maternity units, got a grilling from councillors at a recent meeting. Mr Day, director of community services at the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, was told to justify
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Market tops the agenda
MALMESBURY market could be resurrected once a month on a Saturday. The Chamber of Commerce are going to meet regularly with the town council to bring a market back to the town after the previous Sunday market was shut down because of objections from local
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Pupils try for Argentina. . .
PUPILS from Malmesbury School have taken up the challenge to raise £3,000 for an adventure to Argentina next year. Students from years 10, 11 and 12 have already started raising money to go on the trip and take part in a project to finish a school, or
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Plans in pipeline to demolish town hall
PLANS to demolish Malmesbury Town Hall look set to be submitted by owners North Wiltshire District Council. An unpopular £1.3million proposal to redevelop the building, which would have cut the public space in the town by half, was thrown out by the council's
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Cannabis wraps found in man's flat
POLICE believe they have taken out the biggest supplier of cannabis to Malmesbury's youngsters with the arrest of drug-dealer Robert Lewis. Police raided the 49-year-old's flat, in High Street, Malmesbury, in November, and discovered 44 separate tinfoil
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What crisis?
MAYOR of Malmesbury Charles Vernon has denied there is a crisis at the town hall despite both the town clerk and his deputy going off on extended sick leave. Clerk Edward Ferguson has been off since last Monday and deputy clerk Sue Webb went off sick
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Anger at village hall parking bid
A PLAN to turn a narrow grass verge into a car park only inches from speeding traffic at a busy New Forest road junction has sparked outrage in Godshill. The proposal comes from the village hall committee, which is anxious to find somewhere for those
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Show of strength boosts Karl's Olympic dream
SALISBURY-based weightlifter Karl Grant's Olympic 2004 dream took a giant step closer to becoming a reality when he triumphed at the UK National Champion-ships at the weekend. The Hanging Langford-based sportsman now heads to the Ukraine in April for
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Birthday 103 for Jane
Staff at Kimberley House Nursing Home with Jane Powell, who has celebrated her 103rd birthday. From the left: Catering manager Julia Boyt, care assistants Tracie Stevens and Laura Bayley, matron Andrea Caudrelier, and sister Sabitri Gaire. CHOCOLATE and
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Pub patrons reassured
Janine Trevett (right), the new landlady at The Pembroke Arms, with bar manager Monica Michie. DA4787P2 THE owners of the Pembroke Arms, in Fovant, have again sought to reassure villagers that it will be reopening soon, by introducing its new landlady
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Residents protest over sports wall
ANTISOCIAL behaviour by youths in Harnham will cause even more misery to people living in Parsonage Green and around the recreation ground if plans go ahead for a sports wall. This is the claim of residents, who this week handed in a petition to Salisbury
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Lottery handouts make a difference
SCHOOLS and community groups are in the money, thanks to the Lottery Awards For All scheme. The initiative gives grants of between £500 and £5,000, which enable more people to enjoy arts, sport, heritage and community activities, in addition to supporting
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Horrors of Holocaust offer lessons for the future
People in Salisbury gathered at the war memorial before a candlelit procession to the Cathedral. DA4811P2THE painful lessons to be learnt from the Holocaust are being brought to life by two history students. Liz Gorham and Katrina Black, of the Burgate
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Huge roach makes another appearance
A THREE POUND, 6oz roach, one of a brace of three pounders caught from the Avon at Ibsley just over a fortnight ago, has been landed again. The huge roach was caught on Friday from the same swim just above the bridge at Ibsley. Proprietor of the Avon
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Residents close road
Protesters gather on Olivier Close, Salisbury, to campaign to have speed humps installed. Petition organisers Linda Anderson and Kirstin Oxborrow are on the far right. DA4810P2RESIDENTS staged a blockade on the road outside their Bemerton Heath homes
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Salisbury beaten by classy Maidenhead
WITH injuries from the previous weekend taking a further three players from the three-quarters, Salisbury did well to hold mighty Maidenhead to a three-try difference. Playing down the Hudsons Field slope, the visitors opened powerfully. Indeed, Salisbury
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Court told baby died after father shook him
A SALISBURY father lost his temper and shook his four-month-old son so hard that the baby died from massive head and chest injuries, similar to those that might be caused by a major car crash, a court heard this week. Joseph Wainwright (27) had been left
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Barry shines on debut
Rising trampoline star Barry Brown practices his straddle jump. Staff pictures by LARA BALL. DA4751P6.WILTON Middle School pupil Barry Brown announced his arrival on the trampoline scene when he made an impressive debut at the Southern Zonal Championships
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High Court to rule on organ cases
PARENTS who discovered their dead babies' organs were removed without consent have taken their cases to the High Court in a bid to get justice. Salisbury couple Mr and Mrs Smith (who do not want to be identified) were finally told their son Andrew had
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Special accolade for one brave little girl
Brownie Peg Davison proudly shows off her Star of Merit, one of Girlguiding UK's highest accolades. Picture: ROGER ELLIOTT DA4727P1A NINE-YEAR-OLD Salisbury girl who demonstrated courage through the most difficult of circumstances has received one of
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All change as Wessex and Hampshire leagues merge
SENIOR football clubs in the Salisbury and surrounding area are set for a major shake-up after the Hampshire Football League and the Sydenhams Wessex League announced a rationalisation which will bring clubs into line with the Football Association's National
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Whites leave it late
That's my ball. City 'keeper Kevin Sawyer thwarts another Ashford attack. DA4803P12.AN INJURY-TIME goal by Salis-bury City substitute Steve Strong ensured the club bounced back to winning ways against Ashford Town following last week's defeat at fellow
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Show of strength boosts Karl's Olympic dream
SALISBURY-based weightlifter Karl Grant's Olympic 2004 dream took a giant step closer to becoming a reality when he triumphed at the UK National Champion-ships at the weekend. The Hanging Langford-based sportsman now heads to the Ukraine in April for
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The Mine sweeper
The Employment Act 2002 introduces new rules about disciplinary procedures and grievance procedures. These new rules have been surrounded by controversy with employers' organisations arguing they are unduly tough and trade unions arguing they are unduly
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Inland Revenue in check up on SMEs
The Inland Revenue has investigated one in 10 small to medium sized businesses in the UK. Alan Newton, chairman of the Tenon Forum, which compiled the research, said: "We predict that these investigations will happen more and more. "SMEs' personal experiences
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Red tape is the bugbear
ENDLESS red tape and paperwork has moved back on top of the list of key concerns for small businesses. A report shows that 20 per cent of firms in the South West now see excessive Government regulations as the biggest problem facing their business a jump
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Leaders Seend are left stunned by Bromham
TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE: FC Northbridge, with a five-goal league double, and Dilton Marsh, closed in on the Division Three title race as leaders Seend Reserves slumped to a 1-0 home defeat by lowly Bromham. Kevin Hammersly's second half header produced one
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Castrol are not so slick at Bradford
WILTSHIRE LEAGUE: BRADFORD Town are the Premier Division hot-shots after their 10-0 win over Chiseldon Castrol took them to the top of the goals chart. They have now scored 66 goals and this win was their second 10-goal haul of the season. Castrol were
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Cannings fall apart as Westbury push on
CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE: WESTBURY Rangers A continue to have one of their best ever seasons in the 6-0 roasting of All Cannings FC allowed them to maintain their push for silverware. Cannings were only 1-0 down at the break and at that stage they were
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Elmore 0, Melksham Town 2
SCREWFIX PREMIER DIVISION: MELKSHAM picked up a vital away win against fellow strugglers Elmore on Saturday. Second half goals from Owen Bryan and Neil Grant were enough to dispatch the hosts and manager Nigel Tripp feels Melksham are starting to put
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No more Mr Nice Guy...
DR MARTENS WESTERN DIVISION: SUPERMARINE boss Tommy Saunders has warned he will not pussyfoot around his players after watching his team lose for the third time in four games since he took charge. His side bounced back from a 6-0 defeat to Halesowen by
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Highworth Town 3, Pewsey Vale 1
Ref. 28782-60HELLENIC LEAGUE: POOR finishing was Pewsey's undoing as they went down in this all-Wiltshire clash. Highworth were the more clinical in front of goal and they went into a 2-0 half-time lead that Vale never recovered from. Pewsey manager Steve
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Three resign from trust
THREE of the five non-executive directors of Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust have resigned as the trust attempts to reach agreement with Swindon Primary Care Trust to take over the running of it. The resignations of Chris Wheeler and Ken
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Cuts 'not our fault' council
KENNET District Council has welcomed a recent Audit Commission report that appears to exonerate councils forced to raise their council tax levels by more than ten per cent each year. The report, entitled Council Tax Increases 2003/2004 Why Were They So
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Make difference by putting pen to paper
AS three months of public consultation is due to begin on maternity units in Devizes and Malmesbury, the Gazette is urging residents to write letters to the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust. The trust is proposing to close both Devizes and
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Co-op feels the wrath of council
Ref. 28831-08SUPERMARKET bosses were hauled before angry Highworth councillors to explain why they had axed a convenience store. Town councillors claim the Co-op store in High Street was a lifeline for many elderly people. When Highworth's new £4.5-million
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Where were the gritters? continued . . .
SWINDON Council admitted it was caught short as a blizzard left no time for gritters to take to the roads across the borough. The town was in chaos yesterday as more than an inch of snow fell during late afternoon just as motorists and commuters were
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Book win heralds boost to tourism
A MASSIVE tourism boost for Swindon is expected to be the lucrative spin-off from a novel that has just won the prestigious Whitbread Book of the Year Award. Mark Haddon's quirky winner of the year's top £25,000 international literary prize is set in
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No grit
Ref. 28840-19WEATHER experts had been predicting snow and ice for more than a week but when the short and sharp blizzard came yesterday, Swindon's gritters were nowhere to be seen. The roads became treacherous within minutes as temperatures plummeted
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Heartache goes on after fire tragedy
MUM Cheryl Kimber, whose son Andrew was killed in a house fire after moving away to escape Calne drug dealers, will celebrate what would have been his 23rd birthday today, with a pilgrimage to his grave. Mrs Kimber, 45, who now lives in Hilperton, near
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Police target teen menace
Community police officers are targeting disruptive youngsters in Calne as part of a month trial. Community Support Officers Mark McIntyre and Terry Lee are splitting their rounds between Chippenham and Calne this month. They are currently in Calne during
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Actors show an icy talent
Last minute panics melted away as Cherhill theatre group performed the Ice Queen pantomime to a full house. The panto was held on three consecutive nights in the village hall and started on Thursday. An additional matinee performance was held on Saturday
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Rescued social club in roof fundraising bid
Calne Football Social Club has launched a sponsor-a-tile campaign to repair the leaking roof at a cost of £5,000. Tiles are currently on sale at £2.50 each and all proceeds will go to the roof appeal fund. The club has already raised £100 in one week.
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Police warn after damage
Police have asked residents to be more vigilant after several incidents of vehicle damage in Calne. Since the New Year a range of offences from flour bombing to smashed windscreens have taken place, mainly in the Priestley Grove and Westerham Walk area
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Council delays lead to fears of eviction
Tenants in Calne are being threatened with eviction due to a backlog of housing benefit claims at the district council. Calne town councillor Mercy Baggs said three tenants on her ward had contacted her over the last few weeks because they had failed
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Youth to pay for damage
PAINTER and decorator James Ball has been faced with a bill for more than £600 for smashing a window while on a night out with his mates. Ball, 18, of Crookwood Farm, Stert, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the shop window of M&J Bakery
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TV bid to be a bachelor's girl
OFFICE worker Emma-Louise Ryan is trying to win the heart of a single man in a new BBC television programme. Miss Ryan, 24, who lives with her parents in Erlestoke, near Devizes, is one of 25 women chosen for the programme, The Bachelor, which began on
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Gardeners to fight for land
FORMER Spitalcroft allotment holders next week go into battle against developers who want to create allotments off Windsor Drive, Devizes. A public inquiry is being held on Tuesday in Devizes to decide whether the Windsor Drive site is suitable for allotments
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Highworth's title challenge is hit by suspensions
HIGHWORTH TOWN face a February suspension crisis following the release of the latest Wilts FA disciplinary list. The side, challenging for the Hellenic Premier Division title, will be without four key players from February 9. Ross Adams and Paul Donnelly
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Children go ape at library
Youngsters got an introduction to Chinese culture last week when staff at Devizes Library organised a special event to welcome in Chinese New Year. The afternoon session of stories and craft activities was designed to welcome in the Year of the Monkey
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Traders slam quality of Christmas market
DEVIZES Development Partnership is to hold a meeting with town traders after a Chamber of Commerce survey discovered dissatisfaction with the town's Christmas market. The market, held on the last Friday in November, attracted a large number of people
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Driver to fight back after council snub
RETIRED teacher Bridget Green is appealing to other motorists whose cars were damaged after hitting a pothole on the A360 near Potterne to contact her after she was given the brush-off from Wiltshire County Council. Miss Green, from Littleton Panell,
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Tax capping is condemned
THE leader of Kennet District Council has condemned as "intimidation and blackmail" the Government's threat to cap councils who raise their council tax by more than five per cent this year. Speaking at yesterday's meeting of Kennet's budget reduction
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Dumb show is a cash winner
FIONA Scruton, landlady of the Lamb Inn at Urchfont, succeeded in keeping silent for three hours on Friday and earned nearly £600 for the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity. Mrs Scruton was challenged by regulars at the popular village hostelry to keep her
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Touch of realism too far
Ref. 12072ALTHOUGH director Rhys Young always goes for authenticity in his shows, the sword fight in his current production of The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew at the Wharf Theatre in Devizes got too realistic for comfort during the dress rehearsal last
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Noise levels considered
FORMER Mayor of Marlborough Nick Fogg has taken some of his Town Council colleagues to task for forgetting the residents of one High Street alleyway. The council's planning committee was discussing a planning application from Waitrose for the installation
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Shock at sighting of mystery big cat
NURSERY teacher Ruth Marsh is still trying to come to terms with having a big, dark coloured cat loping along the side of her car. Mrs Marsh was driving to her home at Shaw, near Lockeridge, at about 8.30pm on January 18 when the big cat appeared. Her
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Woman fights to clear lover
MARLBOROUGH woman Rachel Smith has launched a campaign to prove her boyfriend Glyn Razzell is innocent of the murder of his estranged wife. The 24-year-old, who lives with her parents at Gales Ground, has offered £5,000 to anyone who can prove that missing
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Passport rule leaves girl out in the cold
PASSPORT office red tape means that six-year-old Paige Stagg may be forced to stay at home in Marlborough when the rest of her family jet off to the sun. Mum Dawn Stagg has booked a week in Majorca for herself and children Jo, 14, Kieren, nine, Paige
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Earl wins praise for mansion plan
A HOTEL and golfing centre for the mega rich is on course to open in Savernake Forest in about two and a half years' time. In August 2002 the Gazette revealed exclusively that Lord Cardigan was involved in talks with developers over the future of Tottenham
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Plan to store winter water
CANAL restoration plans will only be approved if they do not further deplete low water levels in the Thames, says the Environ-ment Agency. About 100 people attended a meeting of the Upper Thames Protection Society on Tuesday at Cricklade Town Hall. The
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What a waste!
Ref. 28839-14RESIDENTS of Bolingbroke Road, in Moredon, say about 20 street lights have been on for 24 hours a day during the last six months because of an electrical fault. Swindon Council says the lights are not costing any extra money because the council
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Allotment group forms
KEEN gardeners have formed a working party to look into the management of allotments in the borough. The group will look at issues including vandalism and security. The group was formed after more than 250 committed allotment holders packed into a public
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Police target unsafe cabs
POLICE have vowed to continue a purge on taxis across the town after random checks revealed a catalogue of mechanical defects. Traffic police teamed up with Swindon Council enforcement officers and benefit office staff to lead the attack at the County
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Derek clicks with great photographs
A new take on wedding photography won Derek Gale a prestigious industry award. His pictures, which capture individual personalities and spontaneous moments, won him a licentiate membership of the Masters Photographers Association. Derek became a full-time
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Groups fear cuts as D-day looms
NEXT Wednesday will be make-your-mind-up time on Swindon council tax by the decision-makers. By then, Swindon Council's cabinet will have the result of the public consultation that has been asking the people to opt for a percentage rise of 5, 7.5 or 10
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Time to start thinking about holiday scheme
Cast your minds ahead of the snow and start thinking of summer. The Splash play scheme is a project which entertains 10-16-year-olds during the summer holidays. To make the programme as varied and inclusive as possible, the project is looking for donations
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Cyclist's lane plea
I WRITE with regard to the proposed use of bus lanes by normal traffic. As a cyclist, one of the few benefits we get is to use bus lanes. This gives us some degree of safe cycling. I use bus lanes while commuting to work. This is done before 7am. I will
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Bath criticism is misplaced
With regard to the letter from Stuart Macpherson in the EA (January 27) regarding the University of Bath in Swindon. When I arrived in Swindon in 1970 the project for the University of North Wessex on what became the Burmah site had just collapsed. The
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It's time we got our tax priorities right
AS a taxpayer of many years' standing, I tend to agree with the sentiments of Denis Harrison's letter (EA Jan 19), but not with his conclusion that further graduating the tax regime is the best way forward. If it were as simple as Mr Harrison suggests
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Display strength of feeling
Many people will be confused by the long-running saga of the Spitalcroft in Devizes. After all, the threat to it began as far back as 1992. Even those who have been paying close attention have to think hard to remember just what stage we have reached.
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All welcome
I WAS pleased to see the report of the presentation by Devizes Boys' Brigade Old Boys' band to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance in last week's Gazette. The cheque the band presented was certainly in excess of £200. It was £1,250. One Saturday each December
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How the bills keep on rising
GAZETTE & HERALD: Retired Tom Perry owns a Band C property in Beechwood Road, Chippenham and has watched his council tax charge soar by more than 81 per cent in the last eight years. "It's diabolical," said Mr Perry, 58. "As a householder I don't
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Town power
THOSE who have chosen recently to point out the apparent powerlessness of Marlborough Town Council might care to note your recent report on a Kennet District Council planning meeting. A significant development in a modern style in the conservation area
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Jeweller shocked after thief walks free
GAZETTE & HERALD: JEWELLERY shop owner Tony Knight said he was disappointed that a thief he gave chase to has walked free from court. Last February Gareth Allen grabbed two rings, worth more than £5,000, before running away from Chas Hart Jewellers
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Rather good news than bad
With reference to Geoff Baker (letters, January 22) I would simply like to say that in almost 40 years of reporting I have made many friends among those bereaved either through accidents or crimes. In at least one murder case I have become regarded as
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What help is there to avoid tragedy?
We were sorry to read the tragic story regarding Liz Griffiths and her husband (Gazette, January 22). We can empathise with Mrs Griffiths as we know from experience how difficult it is to get any help from the Mental Health Services. We have in our extended
