West Swindon's
mgcizine a THE 11-
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I don't believe it!! Only 7 people claimed a free headboard with their bed last month. So this great offer is on for one more month. Say 'THE LINK' and we will supply FREE with every bed purchased a headboard retailing here at £18; they cost £28 in other places. Direct from stock: 26", 3', 4', 4'6" and 5' Beds or mattress only. 17/20 HIGH STREET WOOTrON BASSE1T TEL: SWINDON 853887
Est 1978
Circulation 10000
BATTLE STARTS UP AGAIN OVER FACTORY IN BACK GARDEN
No. 66 September 1987 SAFE BUS CAMPAIGN PICKS UP The campaign to get safer buses is gathering momentum with support coming from residents of West Swindon following The Link's front page report in August. A public meeting was held to consider safety issues after Toothill toddler Miranda Morland was severely injured when her arm was trapped in the centre doors of a Swindon & District bus and she was dragged along the road. June Lawton, from Toothill Community Centre, said several people had telephoned to report incidents where a bus had started to move away before they or their children were off. But she is appealing for more people to contact her. "It is essential for those who have been in an accident or have nearly had one - no matter how small - to write down their experiences," said Ms. Lawton. "The Bus Safety Group is trying to collect evidence to show how dangerous centre door buses are. Many people have mentioned incidents, but we need them in writing." Reports should be sent to Ms. Lawton, Toothill Community Centre, Village Centre, Toothill. The Safety Group is awaiting the findings of an enquiry being conducted by the Swindon & District Bus Company.
A controversial factory unit lo- industrial use, but have marketed cated in a housing area is set to the building as a retail outlet. It is become a planning battleground completely the wrong place for a again. bank. Three bus routes converge Local councillors fought hard at the Westech corner, the main against planning permission being entrance to the Doctor's surgery given to the Westech building in is opposite and the extra traffic Westlea because it was too close generated by people popping in to housing and at a busy traffic and out of the bank will be enorjunction. This view was supported mous. There won't be enough by Thamesdown Council's Plan- parking on-site, so there will be ning Committee who turned the cars on the pavement and what if planning application down. they instal a cash dispenser? That London developers Plinlimmon will mean cars drawing up, enEstates appealed against the re- gines running while people get fusal to the Secretary of State for their money —24 hours a day." the Environment. The GovernCllr. Midwinter promises that ment inspector subsequently the planning application will be ruled against the Council stating objected to strenuously. "It's that "it was a genuine 'High Tech' already cost the Council a lot of development, that the effects on money trying to preserve the the amenity of the area would residential environment, but we not be harmful and that the traffic will work with Westlea people to generated by the proposal could stop this extra intrusion." easily be accommodated by local He also said the proposal to roads." Costs were awarded to erect three flag poles at Westech the developers which meant that will be objected to because of the the Thamesdown ratepayer possible dangers. "The flagpoles stumped up over £20,000. at Sandfords are always falling over; at Westech they could drop High Street Bank onto cars or on a house across the The original planning permission road.' he said. specified the building could be used for light industrial or 'high tech' development work. An application for change of use has A collection to raise money for the families of the been submitted to allow a major massacre victims will be held in The Mall at the high street bank to use the ground West Swindon Centre on Thursday floor. This has enraged Toothill councillor Ricky Midwinter who 10th September. worked with Westlea residents Please give generously. when the building was first proposed and objected to. The collection is organised by the Link 45 - Club. Reporting the application to More volunteer collectors are wanted. The Link, Cllr. Midwinter exPlease ring John Price on 872479 with offers of pressed consternation. "It is outrageous that these developers help. were given permission for light
IIEJNGERFORD TRAGEDY FUND
GOODBYE TO CARREFOUR - GATEWAY INTO THE 1990s
carrefbur swindon Plans are well underway to give the West Swindon Centre a new look and new image. Gateway Foodmarkets, which owns Carrefour, has submitted plans to Thamesdown Council to make changes to the entrances to the Centre and to alter the delivery arrangements to the rear of the main store. Westlea residents who live close-by have complained for years about the lorry congestion and noise at inconvenient times. In the five years Carrefour has been trading, it has become massively popular with shoppers, to the extent that it operates at well over the industry average. "In some ways we have been too successful" admitted store manager Robbie Miller recently. "We need to increase the space and the range of goods available to our customes." The changes proposed also include re-arrangement of the retail area and a complete re-fit. When this is done, the supestore will emerge as a Gateway Superstore. A public presentation of the alterations proposed by Gateway will take place on 7th September. Details will be found on page 11.