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Take a look for
yourself today No. 123 June 1992
•
96-99 Manchester Road, Swindon
Circulation 10,500
•zi- (0793) 534907 & 513705
West takes on blue hue
Freshbrook School first to consider opt-out status Link to disappear
next month
No, The Link magazine isn't going out of business! Things have never been healthier. However were publishing our guide to West Swindon, WEST next month (deferred from June). Instead of being found inside The Link as last year, WEST will be published on the outer pages and the July Link news will occupy the centre pages. By doing this we hope to encourage readers to keep WEST handy as an invaluable ,• guide to facilities in the area and as a quick reference to the businesses providing a service to the people who live here. There's still time to advertise in WEST. Telephone 871793.
The governors at Freshbrook School are the first local school to
declare that they will investigate whether to break away from Wiltshire County Council control. Across the country abouta dozen primary schools now have Grant Maintained Status which means funding comes direct from the DepartmentofEducation andScience. However there is said to have been a flood of enquiries about GMS since the general election in April. Freshbrook headteacher Phillip Gurney said the governors had started to discuss opting-out six months ago but the idea had been frozen pending the outcome of the election. 'The governors are at the stage of investigating the pros and cons of Grant Maintained Status as faras this school is concerned. They will review whether it meets our needs in June and then decide whether to put the issue to a ballot of parents."
June Festival of Fun
f.,
There's going to be loads of fun for pre-school children and their parents during West Swindon's fourth Under 5s Festival in June. / The events include a day out amongst the animals at Lower Shaw Farm, a teddy bears picnic at Lydiard Park and an activity day at the Link Centre. New this year is a nature day atRoughmoor Social Hall with visits the ancient woodland at Peatmoor Copse to collect materials for artwork A full programme is printed on page 14 of this edition of the Link magazine. Cut it out and get involved. -
óOs concert tickets selling well Tickets are still available for the Link Centre's first big pop concert on Sunday 14 June. Stars of the 19 60s The Tremeloes, Mike Pender's Searchers and The Merseybeatswill beperforming their many hits in aid of the new Ricky MidwinterTrustwhich is being set up to help the young people of West
Swindon in memory of the late councillor. Tickets for the four hour show cost £10 and details of how to book can be found on page 15. Promoter Andy Cotton said the bends offer great value for money and the cash raised will be going to a good cause.
If parents are to be asked to decideon the school's future, the earliesta ballot could take place would be September. A 'yes' vote would then be sent for agreement by the Secretary of State for Education. and new funding arrangements would come into effect next year. "The key thing is to provide parents with good, clear, balanced information about the issue and we would aim to make this available," said Mr Gurney
Aid to Albania
The local election for seats on Thamesdown Council on 7 May saw West Swindon swing behind the Conservative Party candidates in all three seats in contention. In the Toothill Ward, which includes Westlea, Skew and Sparcells, two seats were up for election. Linda Green and Michael Rutland received enough votes to retain one Conservative seat and win the place held by the late Labour councillor Ricky Midwinter. In Freshbrook and Grange Park the Conservative's Neil Bristow deposed Labour's Bob Pixton, the area's councillor for six years. In a shock move just before the elections, theToothill Ward Labour County Councillor Alan Winn-ill announced he was defecting to the Conservative Party. He said he would continue to represent local people irrespective of their politics but declined to declare whether he would be putting himself forward in nextyear's County Council elections.
On page 13 photographer Neil Atkinson from Grange Park describes the trip organised by the Wootton Bassett Appeal for Albania in early May.
• Alan Winmill explains his reasons for changing sides on page 4. • Bob Pixton reflects on six years as a councillor for Freshbrook and Grange Park on page 77.
Rising to the challenge
ALLIED DUNBAR
All the staff of Allied Dunbar are taking part in Challenge '92 during early July. Community groups are being invited to challenge them to carry out tasks which can be completed over a weekend. If you've got ajob and you need people power to get it done, telephone Jenny Shearer on 514514.
Link a tune with the band and win a pair of tickets to the big charity concert in June 44f9. Silence is golden Sorrow Needles & Pins Wishin' an Hopin' Twist & Shout Sugar and Spice
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Know the answers? It was either The Merseybects, The Tremeloes or The Searchers Send your answers to: The Link magazine, 13 Castle Dore, Freshbrook. The first three correct answers drawn on 6 June win 2 tickets each.