west Swindon'g BED SALE This offer lasts for 2 weeks starting 1st February We are giving a Free Headboard plus a reduction in the purchase price of all ourtop quality beds: Sealey - Layezee - Sleepline Repose, etc. First come, first served for same-day delivery. 17/20 HIGH STREET WO3TTON BASSETT TEL: SWINDON 853887
Est. 1978
Circulation 10,000
SCHOOLS CROSSINGS BREAKTHROUGH The serious accident outside Toothill School in December has resulted in a recognition by Wiltshire County Council that the road junction of Flint Hill, Stokesay Drive and the school entrance is a danger to pedestrians. Seven year old Sarah Ogbourne of Warnford Close was severly bruised and cut when she was knocked down by a car. She returned to school in mid— January after six weeks off school, nursing skin grafts repairing the damage. A meeting of the County Council Highways Panel received a long report of the accident and was addressed by Toothill ward county councillor Alan Winmill. There was a unanimous decision that a strong recommendation should be conveyed to the County Council Education Committee that there is a road safety problem and a school crossing patrol was needed. Elaine Hill, Chair of the Toothill School Association, is very pleased by the decision. "I am Delighted that the Highways Panel rcognises that there are dangers to pedestrians at the main school entrance. Until now the Education Committee has been sitting on its hands saying it was not advised of the safety problems. "It was an excuse for inaction which now cannot be used. This decision is an important lever to argue for a buy—pop person." Toothill councillor Ricky Midwinter agrees with Mrs. Hill. "This is the first time since Toothill School opened in 1978 that the County Council has acknowledged that pedestrians are in danger because of parked cars and passing traffic. "The late West Swindon
County Councillor Len Hobbs argued for a safe crossing point for years; the campaign by parents is an important, but small victory. It's a great pity that a near tragic accident has brought it. We must now ensure that the Education Committee which meets on 27th February agrees with the Highway Panel and votes for a school crossing patrol." The Toothill School Parents' Association called a meeting on 26th January of parents from both Toothill and Oliver Tomkins School. A campaign group was formed to bring the road safety problems at both schools to the attention of the Education Committee.
A SCHOOL FOR GRANGE PARK - Residents fight for better sight see page 12 & 13, map & photograph.
No. 71 February1988
FIVE HUNDRED CONNECTIONS MADE
All connected. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward of Beaulieu Close, Toothill, with Derique Montaut (right), Chair of Thamesdown Council's Housing Committee, and Ward Councillor Ricky Midwinter (centre). Thamesdown Council's pioneering high-tech pensioner monitoring service made its five hundredth connection to a couple in Toothill recently. The Homeline service uses the latest technology to give peace of mind to pensioners at risk. A telephone is installed in the
household concerned, which apart from being an ordinary 'phone, can send an emergency signal to a monitoring centre where somebody is on duty 24 hours a day. People in difficulty can ring in or press a pendant which will activate a signal if they cannot get to the 'phone. There (Continued on page 4)
COMIC RELIEF ON ICE
A Friday 5th February Link Centre 8p.m. - 10.30 p.m. Price: £2; £1.60 (conc.) 45p skate hire Red noses given away, spot prizes, lots of silly games. Come on down and help famine Beaumaris Road, by Oliver Tom kins School - the next place for an relief in Africa and young people in crisis in the U.K. accident?