west Swindon's
Magazine
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14AASSIVrr, O;A&L% Over 1,000 cycles usually in stock Also good stock of reconditioned bikes 96 99 Manchester Road, Swindon
No. 109 April 1991 . Circulation 10,500
(0793) 534907 & 513705 Red Nose reminders Inside - local efforts to help Comic Relief
Secondary school allocation confusion by Elizabeth Wood This year's allocation of places in secondary schools has provoked an angry response from some West Swindon families. Parents can express a preference for one of three secondary schools designated by Wiltshire County Council to take children from the area - Bradon Forest Purton, Greendown Grange Park, Ridgeway Wroughton.
The children who attend Toot hillFarm After School Club held a 4 hour marathon disco on 22 March
All the staff and children from Westlea School did the conga round the West Swindon Centre on 15 March
Urban art may be recognised A piece of vandalised street equipment may be elevated to an art form if a recommendation to Thamesdown Council is accepted. The remains of a control barrier next to the Link Centre coach park is being put foward in a leaked report as worthy of preservation as an example of 1980's lifestyle. The barrier was wrecked by vandals in 1985, very soon after the Link Centre opened, and has not been removed. Although Tharnesdown does not have any money to undertake the preservation, the new fund for the arts announced in the recentBudget is expected to pick up the bill. Lord Palumbo, Chairman of the Arts Council, is believed to have indicated to Council arts officers that projects which had significant social, historical and artistic merit would be considered by the new fund, when he visited Swindon in March to view Thamesdown Council's collection of paintings. A spokesman for the Council's Visual Arts Advisor admitted that the Council had been asked to
Some parents from Toothill and Westlea who requested a place at Braden Forest School have been allocated to The Ridgeway, while others, from Freshbrook and Shaw asked for places at The Ridgeway, but have been given places at Bradon Forest.
Fun Day for the whole family at Shaw Ridge Leisure Park Sat. 6 April, 10am - 3pm Stalls, Inflatables, Disco Free tours behind the scenes of the MGM Cinema Arranged by the operators of Shaw Ridge Leisure Park All proceeds to CLICK (Child Leukemia Research)
Below: Full housesforJohn Kiel, Manager of the newly opened 7 screen Metro Goldwyn Mayer cinema at Shaw Ridge
nominate projects for consideration and that the Link Centre crash barrier was a strong contender. "The crash barrier has a certain form about it which 'ergs together many aspects of the i980's. It's a strong statement of attitudes and values, a moment in time which should be remembered." A virulent reaction to the leakingof the proposal in The Link magazine is expected from both the Council and the public at large. al
"Some nonsense decisions have been made," admitted Area Education Officer David Williamson. "We have followed the admission policy which states that children from Toothill and Westlea have priority over other West Swindon children for places at Ridgeway School." Anita Jones, one of the parents involved said, 'Parents in West Swindon are invited to choose which school to send their children to. I realise that some system of allocation is needed if too many opt for one school, but I don't think it should be decided on geography. It is very difficult to draw lines between different areas in West Swindon. The Education Office knows nothing about the individual children and no attempt is being made to match them to particular schools. A better system is needed." Simon Conlon, Wiltshire County Councillor for Freshbrook and Grange Park, commented, "The Education Authority needs to look again at the admissions policy. It has worked well in the pastbut has thrown up a number of problems this year. It should clearly be a priority to increase the number of places at Ridgeway School "It is vitally important that geographical areas are not used again. Places could be allocated on a first come first served basis, or by drawing straws. But above all, parents must have faithin whatever system is used." David Williamson said, "We have received between thirty and forty complaints this year. If there is room for manoeuvre we will be as flexible as possible. Easily corrected errors will be sorted out in the next few weeks and beyond that there is a formal appeals procedure that all parents are free to use."