No 477 March 2022 GPS-tracked, door to door delivery to over 42,000 homes across Swindon with Est. overall readership of 105,000
Swindon
LINK Your Community Magazine
North & West Edition
Focus on Property p14
swindonlink.com
A vital emergency service for Swindon p8
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Swindon Link team assembles to trek across the Sahara Desert in aid of Prospect By Jamie Hill Jamie@positive-media.co.uk Who doesn't like a day at the beach? And who doesn't like travelling to and then trekking across one of the most inhospitable places on the planet? And what if that place you're trekking across just happens to be one big beach except with added camels and scorpions and no sea (or water, or shade, or ready access to McDonalds)? Well. Count me in! That's right. At the tender age of 48, I will be crossing The Sahara Desert and it'll all be in aid of Prospect Hospice, who provide end of life care for Swindon and Wiltshire. In fact, Swindon Link is going all out this year to support Prospect Hospice as we're also heavily involved in the My Dad's Bigger Than Your Dad Festival being held on 16 July in the Town Gardens in aid of the charity. For The Sahara Trek, much like The Avengers, I've even put a team together that will be representing the magazine as we cross one of the most inhospitable places on the planet. Team Link Assemble! Together we're aiming to raise nearly £11,000 for the charity, which is a pretty overwhelming figure.
Group Editor and Owner: Jamie Hill Deputy Editor: Barrie Hudson Reporter: Jessica Durston Sales: Dave Stewart and Rosy Presley Accounts Manager: Karen Randall Contributors: Tyler Ody, Leigh Robinson, Becky Cox, Maurice Spillane and Alfie Howlett
The Trek takes place in the Moroccan Sahara where the Link team members will experience the vast and diverse landscapes including the Atlas Mountains. The trek will span over 60 kilometres and take place from 19-26 March 2023. Apparently we'll be accompanied by camels but won't be allowed to ride them as they'll just be carrying gear, which is a tad unfair. You can find out more about the trek at www.prospecthospice.net/saharatrek Team Link is made up of myself, Laura Johnson, Amy O'Reilly, and Kieran McCarthy. During the next year, the team will be taking part in as ADVERTISING Call 01793 644540 or email: advertising@swindonlink.com Closing date for April adverts and editorial: 11 March April edition published: 25 March Our Statistics Est. Readership of 105,000 in print & c.50,000 monthly online visitors. Swindon’s largest free publication. Advertising starts from just £49.
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many fundraising activities as possible including marathons, half marathons, 10ks, walks, obstacle course runs, quiz nights, raffles, and auctions as well as fundraising at different events. This is all in a bid to reach the £10,800 target for the charity. We won't be able to do this without your support, though, as every little bit will help.
The whole thing is a mammoth undertaking and it's a bit daunting but what's life if it isn't for living, eh? It's going to be emotional. And we might even end up with a camel as a best friend. So that'll be another thing crossed off the bucket list. You can help by donating to one of us at www.justgiving. com/team/linksahara
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Hear Link Magazine highlights on air, the last Wednesday of each month and as a podcast on www.swindon1055.com
Got a community story or feature? Contact newsdesk at publisher@swindonlink.com or 01793 644540 swindonlink.com n March 2022
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Swindon Borough Council are seeking creative ideas to enhance the town's parks By Jessica Durston | jessica@positive-media.co.uk The borough council are encouraging creative, civicminded entrepreneurs to come forward with ideas to enhance Swindon’s country parks. Last year, the council says, more than a thousand members of the public contributed to Swindon’s proposed Country Parks Improvement Plan, which aims to identify and then deliver improvements to the borough’s parks so they continue to be enjoyed by visitors for years to come. So far, plans are in place to refurbish and clean the iconic Coate Water diving board, while £500,000 will be spent building a brand-new accessible play park at Coate Water. Improvements have also been made to the children’s play area at Lydiard Park. Now Swindon Borough Council says it is keen to hear from the commercial sector in order to explore potential options to enhance existing facilities and create new ones to maximise the visitor experience in the Borough’s various country parks and preserve them for future generations. A range of ideas will be considered including everything from catering, health and wellbeing and leisure activities to one-off events and seasonal hospitality. Robust assessment criteria have been agreed for any proposals put forward, with the council retaining ownership of its green assets. As each site and proposal will be unique in its offer, the council’s approach aims to be flexible and apply common sense. Local stakeholders will have the chance to have their say to ensure the best outcome is delivered for each site and the people of Swindon. 4
Cllr Robert Jandy, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage, Leisure and Town Centre Experience, said: “We are incredibly lucky in Swindon to be blessed with the most amazing country parks and our Parks Strategy is focused on making them even better for local people. “We have already committed a significant amount of money to improve the play facilities and heritage assets within the parks as part of the strategy, but now we want to hear from the commercial sector so we can begin to explore opportunities to enhance the experiences of all visitors. “This exercise is centred on improving our existing amenities and facilities and is in no way looking to sell off any parts of our parks. If any of our existing operators at Coate Water are interested in expanding or creating new facilities we’d be keen to hear from them. “There may also be new operators who can see potential in one of our parks to provide a service to visitors. “This is a great opportunity to bring in much-needed income to make our parks sustainable, while also giving local businesses and entrepreneurs the chance to show off their creative ideas and talents within some of the Borough’s most beautiful settings. If you have an idea please get in touch as we’d love to hear from you.” Expressions of interest can be submitted to the council from now until midnight on Friday, 26 March by emailing: strategicparks@swindon.gov. uk for an application form.
A view across Lydiard Park
Coate Water and its iconic diving board
Further information is available at: www.swindon. gov.uk/parksconsultation
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The Eco Briefing Be the change: Get impartial advice on home energy-saving improvements
Homeowners in Swindon can access an independent and impartial advice service to help carry out energy-saving home improvements and refurbishments with confidence. The ‘Futureproof’ service is managed by the Centre for Sustainable Energy, a Bristolbased charity with 40 years’ experience of offering energysaving advice to households. For a £120 fee, one of their trained advisors will have a discussion with you about your options and any changes you
would like to make to your property. If you need a single measure like insulation, a new heating system or solar panels, the Futureproof service can help you make the best choice for your home and budget, and refer you to local installers. For more details visit: www. futureproof.uk.net Meanwhile over 100 eligible households across Swindon are set to benefit from free home energy-saving improvements worth up to £10,000, including
installing insulation and solar panels. This Government grant funding has been specifically targeted at residents on income-related benefits or with a gross household income of less than £30,000 a year, with a home energy efficiency rating of D, E, F or G. Over half (54 per cent) of homes in England are currently rated D or below for energy efficiency. With the energy price cap due to increase by 54 per cent from April, finding ways to use less gas and
electricity and make your home more energy efficient can help to mitigate this. For information, advice and resources visit: www.swindon. gov.uk/bethechange
A tree-mendous delivery at Stanton Park
Over 17,000 trees have been delivered to Stanton Park, ready to be planted at multiple locations in and around Swindon over the coming weeks. The delivery came from six different nurseries and consisted of mostly native species of tree such as Oak, Birch, Alder, Aspen, Poplar,
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Hornbeam, Holly, Willow and Hazel. The new woodland areas will store huge amounts of carbon, playing an important role in not only our national mission to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but in Swindon’s local mission too. This tree planting initiative is being funded through
the Government’s Trees for Climate programme and will contribute towards Swindon Borough Council’s aim to plant 34 hectares of woodland across a range of sites this year. For further information on tree planting in the Borough visit: www.swindon.gov.uk/ treeplanting
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A fifth of air ambulance missions in 2021 were calls to Swindon By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk Last year Wiltshire Air Ambulance was called to 188 Swindon emergencies and carried 53 patients to Great Western Hospital. New figures issued by the charity show that one in six of all missions during 2021 were to Swindon. Wiltshire Air Ambulance says it is extremely grateful to Swindon residents and the town’s local businesses, who go out of their way to offer support. A fifth of the charity’s income in the last financial year came from the Swindon area, and about a quarter of all air ambulance lottery memberships come from people in the town and surrounding villages. Wiltshire Air Ambulance chief executive David Philpott said: “We know that Swindon is
really important to our charity and we’re very grateful for the support of all those who live and work in the area. “We also receive excellent backing from businesses in the area, including a longterm charity partnership with Swindon Town Football Club, plus companies such as Excalibur Communications, Stronghold and Imagine
Cruising.” Wiltshire Air Ambulance’s pilots, paramedics and doctors have spent the last two years operating on the front line amid the pandemic. The aircrew have been required to work in PPE, while important safety changes were introduced to the operations, including a divide between the helicopter’s cockpit and the
main cabin. The pandemic has meant many community events had to be cancelled, but with restrictions now falling away, the charity has high hopes for the future. “We recently saw our yearly fundraising target increase to £4 million per annum, which is the equivalent to around £11,000 a day,” added Mr Philpott. “We receive no regular direct Government funding or National Lottery grants, so the generosity of the public remains as vital as ever. “There are endless ways in which you can support your local air ambulance. As our motto goes, we are funded by you, flying for you.” Options range from the charity's lottery to its Regular Giving scheme. Further information can be found at www. wiltshireairambulance.co.uk
National attention for Swindon charity Dressability thanks to primetime TV appearance A vital Swindon charity was filmed for BBC programme The One Show. Westmead-based Dressability adapts clothing for people with mobility issues, making them easier to put on and remove and boosting the independence and dignity of its clients. The charity was approached by a production company making a segment for The One Show, featuring a young woman called Tia Chapman. Tia, a wheelchair user, is one of the winners of the BBC’s Young Reporter competition, and the piece features her looking at some of the challenges she faces when searching for fashionable clothing which meets her practical needs. At the time of going to print, the segment was due for broadcast in mid-February. Dressability manager Sharon 8
Tombs said: "We've never, ever had any national publicity before, and the viewing figures for the show are three million, so that could be really good for us." Tia Chapman's report is divided into three parts. In the first, she visits a city centre and looks at the various clothing options available. Sharon said: "She looks at how difficult it is to get clothing that fits." In the second part, Tia is interviewed by Sony Awardwinning broadcaster Nikki Fox, a fellow wheelchair user who was appointed as the BBC's Disability Correspondent in 2014. In the third and final part of her report, Tia gets in touch with Dressability to ask about options for having clothing altered. Sharon added: "I take a pair of jeans of hers, we alter them
Young journalist Tia Chapman
and I send them back to her for her birthday." There is thought to be only one other organisation in Britain doing similar work to Dressabiity.
The Swindon charity's clients are people of all ages and from all walks of life. The younger ones include children with disabilities whose clothes are altered so they can, for example, attend to their bathroom needs and be more independent. Skilled Dressability workers make subtle changes to garments, such as replacing standard fastenings and openings with more manageable ones, and finished items are generally visually indistinguishable from unaltered items. Other clients include adults with mobility and dexterity issues, whether because of a disability or as the result of accident or illness, and the work of Dressability often gives them vital extra independence. Dressability's website is www. dressability.org.uk
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£2m cash boost for town centre inSwindon Business Improvement District - the private not-for-profit organisation which promotes the interests of town centre firms, says more than £2m in private investment is heading for the area. The announcement came in the wake of a poll among town centre businesses, in which more than 80 percent of those taking part backed inSwindon BID for the next five years. The organisation's director, Anita Bellenger, said the businesses had given inSwindon BID the opportunity to enhance, promote and champion the town centre and invest in the future.
Views sought on street trading Swindon Borough Council is gathering opinions about its street trading policy. The council is particularly interested in learning whether its current policy is too restrictive, and says it aims to encourage and deliver high quality street markets in the town. All are welcome to voice an opinion, and further information can be obtained by searching for 'consultations' at the council's website, swindon.gov.uk
Pride of Swindon Awards judging The judging of this year's Pride of Swindon Awards is set to take place on 14 March. The annual awards recognise people from all walks of life who go the extra mile for their community. Previous winners have ranged from community organisations to children who inspired others through their courage and dedication to good causes. The 2022 awards were officially launched last November by Mayor of Swindon Cllr Garry Perkins. 10
How Council Tax helps Swindon's neediest people By Barrie Hudson barrie@positive-media.co.uk
Swindon Borough Council is reminding people that their council tax helps local people who need it most. The council's move follows the announcement of a nine percent increase spread over three years, beginning with a 2.99 percent rise this year. Leaflets explaining the increase were set to arrive along with bills at the end of February. A council spokesperson said: "You may be surprised to learn that around 80 per cent of Swindon Borough Council’s budget is spent on social care services that provide a lifeline and safety net to residents who need them most. "If you don’t access social care services yourself, or know a relative or friend that does, you might not know a great deal about what ‘social care’ actually is. Social care includes
The bulk of Council Tax revenue is spent on social care (picture posed by models)
all forms of personal care and practical assistance for children and adults who require extra support and need to be kept safe. "When we talk about ‘adult social care’, this covers a wide range of activities to help people with mental or physical difficulties live an independent and safe life. "This could include help with washing, dressing and getting out of bed, as well as helping people stay active and
engaged in their communities. "The council is also responsible for providing children, young people and their families with extra help and support when they need it, and if children can’t live with their own families, providing care for them at a critical point in their lives. "While only a relatively small proportion of people need these services, they are incredibly important to those who depend on them."
Nearly £1m earmarked to make streets safer Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Russell Holland and Cllr Cathy Martyn met to discuss how nearly £1m will be spent on making Swindon streets safer. Last October, Swindon Borough Council, supported by the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon, announced that after a successful bid to the Government’s Safer Streets scheme, it would receive £550,000 of funding to increase the safety of public spaces for all, with a particular focus on tackling violence against women and girls. This round of funding was in addition to £432,000 of Safer Streets funding, previously awarded to the OPCC with support from the council, with a focus on tackling violent crime and acquisitive crime, such as burglary. Since the funding was awarded last year, the two
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Russell Holland, Cllr Cathy Martyn, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Public Safety, and Sgt Richard Fay from the Swindon Community Policing Team
authorities have been working collaboratively to put together a plan of measures they hope to introduce across Swindon, to make the town safer for residents. The Deputy PCC, himself a borough councillor, and Cllr Martyn toured the town centre with members of the council's Community Safety Team, as well as Sgt Richard Fay from the Swindon Community Policing Team, to see how the Safer
Streets funding would be used. Cllr Holland said: "This money will enable us to make nights out safer by focusing on the journey from home, into town and back again. "We recognise the fear and concerns some women have in making these trips. Key areas for this work will focus on communications, engagement, physical improvements, guardianship and transport."
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Mad March Hare run to raise vital funds for Breast Cancer Now The Mad March Hare is a 5km and 10km event aimed at encouraging people to become more active and raise funds for Breast Cancer Now. Organisers say they welcome people of all abilities, ages and walks of life, and dogs are also allowed. The event will take place live on Sunday, 20 March at Lydiard Park. Those who registered this year have also been given the option to carry out their run virtually throughout March.
Help the hospice with pre-loved furniture Prospect Hospice is in need of good quality furniture to sell in its charity shops. Those wishing to donate furniture can email vanbookings@prospecthospice.net giving a name, contact number, full address and postcode. Sofas and upholstered furniture must have fire labels attached and photos of items showing the fire labels attached are welcome. Donors can also call the hospice’s distribution centre on 01793 813362 and leave contact details.
Swindon playgroup keen to invite new members to ensure its future around a third By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk The team at Jellytots are actively encouraging new members to join their morning or afternoon sessions to keep their longstanding playgroup alive. Situated on the grounds of Brookfield School on Cartwright Drive, West Swindon, it offers three hour sessions in the morning and afternoon during term time. Currently, there are spaces available for both. The group usually has up to 16 children per session to maintain an effective adult to child ratio. The Jellytots team is made up of five qualified practitioners with over 30 years of experience. Staff say they currently receive a lower funded rate per hour. This is because the type of childcare Jellytots offers is falling as a proportion of childcare in Swindon, and currently accounts for only
but to sadly rethink our place in the Early Years sector in Swindon, after over 30 years in the area." The Jellytots team say there are many reasons why parents should bring their children along to their sessions, including the variety of topics they cover. The most recent topic on the schedule has been climate change. More information can be found at jellytotsplaygroup.org. uk. Individuals can also contact Jellytots' Enrolment Secretary via jellytots_rolls@hotmail. co.uk.
Local academy first in England to gain reaccreditation for commitment to Holocaust Education
Staff and pupils at Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (RWBA) are the first school nationally to be reaccredited as a Quality Mark UCL Beacon School for commitment to Holocaust Education. They were given the news of its Sounds Like Women reaccreditation on Holocaust to host tri-monthly live Memorial Day, 27 January. concerts Being one of approximately Non-profit organisation Sounds 10 original schools chosen to Like Women are holding live pilot the UCL Beacon School music nights at Old Town's programme in 2012, the Tuppenny every three months Academy says it has striven and the first gig took place on to show its commitment to 20 February. highlighting Holocaust and The 'Do What You Were Told genocide studies throughout the You Cannot Do' concerts aim curriculum. to celebrate diversity, female Dr Andy Pearce, UCL musicians and the power of Reviewer, said: “The Quality music. All profits will go to Mark award is a means of SLW to support songwriting recognising those schools with and ongoing music therapy an ongoing and unrelenting projects for the benefit of commitment to making sure domestic abuse survivors. that the Holocaust education Further details are at they provide is of the highest soundslikewomen.com/events standard. The award is
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of settings. The other two thirds receive between nine and 17% extra per child per hour. The Jellytots team say they are being offered a 3% increase in funding this year. The last rise was in 2017. Since then, the National Living Wage (NLW) has risen by 26%. This has meant the playgroup team have had to increase wages accordingly. The playgroup's staff said Swindon Borough Council were very supportive when they were not allowed to open during the first lockdown. Jellytots' Jan John said: "We appreciate that funds are limited, but as things stand, and with further NLW rises expected, it won’t be long before we will have no choice
earned, not given; meaning that this is an achievement that schools work incredibly hard to attain. I wholeheartedly commend and congratulate all who are involved in RWBAs Beacon School activities." As a Beacon School it has marked Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) with a series of events centred around this year’s ‘One Day’ theme. Sophie Staniforth, a history teacher at the academy said: “There are lessons across the week relating to HMD. With each year group responding and engaging with a different survivor story. Every department does something to link to the Holocaust." Asked why it is so important to remember the Holocaust, Teacher Nicola Wetherall, who
has received an MBE for her services to Holocaust education, genocide prevention and human rights awareness, said: “It’s about equipping pupils to be informed global citizens. We try to find a lens for students to identify with these survivors and events." To learn more about UCL Centre for Holocaust Education visit https://holocausteducation. org.uk. More information about RWBA can be found at www.rwba.org.uk and www. rwbatrust.org.uk
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Focus on Housing in Swindon Swindon vs the National Average: House Prices Data collected from Rightmove last year put the average price for a house in the South West at £344,221. According to Plumplot, the average price of a house in Swindon was substantially lower than this at £317,000, between January and December 2021. The Swindon average is slightly higher than the average for the whole of the UK, which was found by the Guardian to have reached a record high of £276,759 in January of this year.
A word on the Swindon housing market from local estate agents... Alex Hornby from Richard James “The local Swindon market is very reflective of the national housing market. Properties are selling very quickly and there are lots of buyers out there. With properties selling so quickly one of the most important things to consider is who you choose to market your property with. At Richard James, Swindon’s largest local estate agent, we recognise that in this market the emphasis is not solely on selling your property, but ensuring you have confidence in your agents' methods to also help find and secure you that perfect onward purchase. The last two years have seen a change in what buyers are looking for. Buyers are more energy-conscious, and more are now working from home. This has seen an increase in buyers looking for additional office space, wanting to be more rural and even looking for driveways with scope for electric car charging. Swindon and its surrounding villages are becoming increasingly popular due to vast employment opportunities and accessibility to nearby towns and cities. As well as the train station, M4 and A420 providing excellent transport links, Swindon is also situated perfectly to explore some of the best countryside the Cotswolds and Ridgeway have to offer. In just over an hour’s drive we can be in London, Cardiff or even sat by the coast! We really do have the best of both worlds in terms of local outside space and accessibility. With all of this on our doorstep it is not surprising that we are finding an increasing amount of buyers are choosing to relocate from areas such as Bristol and Reading.” More information about Richard James can be found at richardjames.uk
Darron Bailey from Perry Bishop “I grew up in Wiltshire and now live in Covingham. Over the years I have helped families and individuals on the move in Swindon, Oxford and across Devon. There have been a great many changes in the way properties are marketed since I first became an estate agent in 1988. However, one thing remains the same – estate agency is all about people and delivering the best possible moving experience. I never forget that.” Darron can be contacted on Tel: 01793 686305 | Email: darronbailey@perrybishop.co.uk
Mark Reynolds from Charles Harding “So far in 2022, we’ve found the market to be extremely buoyant – in most cases properties are exceeding their market price, and we don’t expect this to be subsiding anytime soon. This is primarily due to not enough local supply to meet the growing demand in Swindon – there just simply aren’t enough new builds or second-hand properties on the market to meet the growing demand. Another trend we’ve seen is an abundance of buyers coming from London, Wales, and all along the M4 corridor. Working from home has changed everything – with many employees now only having to commute to the office once or twice a week, the demand for larger homes in East and West Swindon, particularly near junctions 15 and 16 on the M4, is surging. It’s a seller’s market right now, that’s for certain.” More information about Charles Harding can be found at www.charles-harding.co.uk 14
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D.I.Y. your dream home...
Focus on Housing in Swindon
Ben and Kay's Story Ben and Kay Adam-Smith are video and podcast production company owners from Hertfordshire. They began their project in December 2017 and completed their certified Passivhaus Self Build in October 2018, choosing the traditional route of masonry and cavity wall construction. The pair visited Swindon's own National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) to get started on making their dream home a reality. Located at Lydiard Fields, off Great Western Way, The NSBRC prides itself upon being the UK's only permanent venue for independent homebuilding advice and support. Since it was established in 2007, its team say they have helped almost a quarter of a million visitors build their own home or extend/improve their existing property.
Ben and Kay say that for them, self building was a no brainer
Project details The couple chose to build their home near Welwyn Garden City. The floor area spanned 226 square metres, and the construction method of choice was brick, block and render. Ben and Kay described their project style as 'traditional form and materials with modern touches.' The build ended up costing the couple £550k, and the land was purchased via Rightmove. The couple added that their last valuation put the house at £1.4m. When asked about the inspiration behind their self-build project, Ben and Kay said: "We wanted to build a Passivhaus-standard forever home for our family in light of the increasing fossil fuel shortage and other environmental issues, and to create a comfortable place to live. Self build therefore was a no-brainer!" More information about Ben and Kay's build and the NSBRC can be found at www.nsbrc.co.uk/advice-inspiration/case-studies/benand-kay-adam-smith.
A construction shot before...
...and after.
New housing developments equal new opportunities... Gilbert Place
For those over 70, Gilbert Place when complete will comprise of a host of stunning one and two-bedroom apartments, with the first occupants expected to move in soon. Future homeowners at the Gilbert Place Retirement Living Plus development will have access to a stylish communal lounge, landscaped gardens maintained by McCarthy Stone’s team, and a guest suite for when family and friends come to stay. For those in need of additional help, Gilbert Place will also have an on-site Estate Manager and an experienced team will be on hand day and night to oversee the running of the development, and to provide tailored domestic support packages to suit individual needs. The development will also feature its own restaurant serving delicious, freshly prepared meals every day and secure entry systems and 24-hour emergency call points. Prices at Gilbert Place start from £245,000 for a one-bedroom apartment and £329,000 for a two-bedroom apartment. Rental and part-buy, part-rent options are also available. More information can be found at www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk/retirement-properties-for-sale/gilbert-place-swindon/
Rangeford Villages
Award-winning later living specialist Rangeford Villages creates inclusive and dynamic lifestyle communities for the over-60s. With developments near Swindon, in Corsham, Pickering, Cirencester, and Chertsey, interested buyers have a wide choice of apartments set within vibrant communities where residents can keep their independence in their own property. Combining future-proof homes with maintenance-free gardens and external upkeep, buying with Rangeford Villages is a lifestyle investment that offers residents the freedom to live life on their own terms. Rangeford’s communities have so much more to offer than just a home. At the heart of each village is The Pavilion, where residents can come together when they please to join in with the many activities, events and hobby groups on offer. Facilities at every village includesa swimming pool, hydro pool, sauna, steam room, gym, bistro and bar, cinema room, activity rooms and a hair and beauty salon. More information at www.rangefordvillages.co.uk or via 0800 1357420. swindonlink.com n March 2022
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Swindon on track to bid for Great British Railways headquarters By Jessica Durston jessica@positive-media.co.uk Swindon Borough Council has signalled its intention to put forward a strong bid to the Government to become the new headquarters for Great British Railways. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps launched the competition to find a new home for the nation’s railways early in February. The new headquarters will be based outside London and bring high-skilled jobs to the winning location with Great British Railways (GBR) becoming the single accountable body responsible for running Britain’s railways. Locations across the country with strong historical links to the railway are encouraged to make the case for why they should be the new home of GBR. The GBR transition team will shortlist the best applications in May, after which a public vote will help determine the winning location.
Applications will be measured against six criteria: • • • • • •
Alignment to levelling up objectives Connected and easy to get to Opportunities for GBR Railway heritage and links to the network Value for money Public support
The new central headquarters will be the heart of the rail network and provide strategic direction for the running of
GBR. Swindon is already in a leading position with its links with Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Great Western Railway (including the Railway Village and Railway Works). The council says the new HQ will help to capitalise on that heritage and build on the recent work to refurbish the Health Hydro, and bringing Brunel’s historic former Carriage Works back into use to create a knowledge economy cluster for the town. Leader of the Council, Cllr
David Renard, wrote to Mr Shapps back in October to promote the town and signal why it deserves to be top of the list. He said: “Swindon is synonymous with the railways. Brunel’s decision to choose Swindon as the home of the Great Western Railway means our railway heritage is part of the fabric of our town today. “We not only have our hugely popular Steam museum, a major part of the railway works has been converted into the Swindon Designer Outlet, while our railway village and the historical buildings around it form an important part of our Heritage Action Zone. “We are also breathing new life into the Carriage Works to ensure our railway legacy lives on. Our location is less than an hour away from London on the train and we have one of the most productive workforces in the country. Being home to the GBR would also give our town centre economy a huge boost.”
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The Politics Page Council leader answers town centre questions from Link readers Swindon Council Leader David Renard's monthly column
We put those questions to Council Leader, Cllr David Renard. Who is responsible for helping Swindon town centre adapt to changing times? It needs the combined effort and investment of landowners, developers, the Government and the council to support the town centre. Economic conditions, investor confidence and Government policy will all play a significant part too in shaping the pace of change. Even before it was accelerated by the pandemic, the popularity of online shopping led to a number of national chain stores disappearing from the high street, including Debenhams and House of Fraser. This means the town centre has to diversify its offer beyond a traditional reliance on retail.
Why doesn’t the council support town centre businesses by reducing business rates and building rents? It is a common misperception, but local business rates are actually set by the Government rather than the council. Most of the rents in the town centre are controlled by private landlords.
What exactly is the council doing to support the town centre?
One of the biggest bugbears for anyone using the town centre is the high parking charges compared to many out of town shopping outlets or neighbouring towns and cities such as Reading, Cheltenham or Bristol.
We are spending more than £100m on a number of projects over the next four years, which we believe will be the trigger point for widespread change within the town centre. Although the council does not own the main retail core of the town centre, we have managed to secure many tens of millions of
We regularly review our parking charges and benchmark them against other places to ensure we are not putting Swindon at a disadvantage compared to other nearby towns and cities. Unfortunately, parking charges are a vital source of income to the council and help pay for essential transport projects such
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as concessionary bus fares and filling potholes. Why is the council spending so much money on improving Fleming Way when there is nothing in the town centre to attract people in? The plans to rejuvenate Fleming Way will be a game changer for this part of the town centre and should not be seen solely as a scheme to merely replace the ageing bus station. We have secured £25m from the Government through the Future High Streets Fund to deliver a new public transport interchange, but it will also enable new pedestrian and cycle routes to make the centre of town easier to access and move around. There is a need to drive people onto public transport when using the town centre to ease the pressure on the roads. Obviously the new bus interchange will help with this but are there any other plans afoot? I cannot speak for the bus companies regarding their routes as they make decisions based on passenger demand, but the changes to Fleming Way are designed to make bus services much more attractive to local people. I would like to see more individual shops, with individual frontages, to take away the glass and concrete effect there is today. Perhaps the council/owners could encourage entrepreneurs by offering reduced rents and rates, like they did in the 1970s, to encourage companies to move here. As mentioned previously, the vast majority of the town centre is owned by private landowners and it is they who set the rents. Local business rates are also set by central
Government. Although we cannot directly control what landlords do with their properties, we can create the conditions to make it more attractive for investment to take place. Why does Swindon need a new Cultural Quarter? In order for our town centre to become a place where people come to socialise as well as shop, we need to create new experiences and a reason for them to come into town. The vision for the new theatre and art gallery has been developed with the help of key Swindon cultural organisations and their users and participants including Create Studios, Swindon Dance, HQ Theatres and Prime Theatre. The plans are also supported by the Arts Council. Our initial analysis has also shown that the Cultural Quarter will generate more than £35m of retained local economic activity and create more than 1,300 jobs, not to mention about 850,000 visits a year. It will be a major boost to our town centre economy and something we are committed to delivering for our town. Swindon Link readers can find out more about the various challenges facing the town centre and what the council is doing to bring about improvements by visiting: www.swindon.gov.uk/ towncentreregeneration
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Words by Barrie Hudson
Town centres up and down the country are facing up to the dual challenge of bouncing back from the pandemic and responding to the changing nature of the High Street. With Swindon Borough Council leading on a £100m programme of investment in the town centre over the next four years, we asked you to send us your questions about the town centre and its future.
pounds from the Government, which has enabled us to invest in land and key heritage buildings that we do own. As well as the £33m being spent on the Fleming Way transport interchange, almost £20m has been obtained to take forward five regeneration schemes, which includes investing in land to bring forward new homes and offices on the next phase of the Kimmerfields regeneration site, next to Zurich’s new office building. Through the Heritage Action Zone we are also investing in Brunel’s former Carriage Works to create a hub for creative and digital SMEs, while a business case for £5m will soon be submitted to enable us to give the historic Health Hydro a new lease of life. Over the coming months, residents will see these schemes coming forward on the ground.
Photographer's latest book traces decades of sporting life
LINK
FEATURES
The sporting history of Swindon over more than 40 years is covered in a new book.
Words by Barrie Hudson
Give us a Neg - the title refers to photographic negatives - is the latest in an ongoing series of books by photographer Richard Wintle. Richard, who runs Calyx Picture Agency, has seen his work sought and used by just about every Swindon media outlet over the years.
Prince William playing bicycle polo in Tidworth
The first and second books in the series, A Picture is Only the Start of the Story and Another Picture, Another Story, contained many of the countless photographs Richard has taken for news stories during his long stint in the town. Many of the images in the book will stir memories in Swindon people. The subjects include former Swindon Town FC manager Lou Macari watching a match from the Arkells' stand at the County Ground shortly after his temporary sacking in 1985, local racehorse trainer Jenny Pitman with her Grand National winner, Corbiere, and Zara Phillips, daughter of the Princess Royal, playing hockey for Cheltenham Ladies College at what is now Lydiard Park Academy.
Zara Phillips playing hockey at what is now Lydiard Park Academy
Trainer Jenny Pitman helps to lead Grand National winner Corbiere
As with the previous volumes, a pound for each copy sold will be donated to Neuroendocrine Cancer UK, a charity devoted to helping people with a rare form of cancer, and one with which the photographer was diagnosed in 2018. Give us a Neg is priced at £14.95 and published by Hobnob Press - ISBN 978-1-914407-27-7.
Lou Macari watches Swindon Town from the stands after being sacked in 1985 - he was reinstated after fans protested
It is available from the Central Library and via Richard's website, calyxpix.com
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LINK CULTURE
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LINK PETS & NATURE
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LINK MOTORING
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LINK SPORT
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Bands to do battle for festival place
LINK CULTURE A popular all-day charity festival in Old Town Gardens is holding a series of Battle of the Bands nights in the run-up to the event. And the winner will be able to perform on the mainstage of the festival itself. The My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival will be held at The Old Town Bowl from midday until 10pm on Saturday 16 July and early bird tickets are now on sale on their website. This follows the inaugural festival which was held in August 2021 in tribute to David Young, the former landlord of The Victoria and 12 Bar who died in early June that year at Prospect Hospice after a hardfought battle against cancer. The plan is to hold two Battle of the Bands heats followed by a final at The Castle Inn in Prospect Place. The winner will then get to play on the mainstage at the actual festival.
LINK
The first heat will take place on Saturday 23 April, the second heat on Saturday 14 May and the final will be held on Saturday 25 June. The festival, which raised £12,633 for Prospect Hospice last year, will once again be supporting the charity. Co-organiser Ed Dyer said: “This is a chance for an up and coming band to play on the mainstage at one of Swindon's biggest live music events. “My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad festival is an event for the community put on by the community and it showcases the huge amounts of talent we have in this town. “The Battle of the Bands is open to anyone and we're looking for a band that will blow away our crowd with their sheer talent. "Our judges are pretty experienced when it comes to live music so we're hoping we can discover an act that is
PETS & NATURE A Column by Thameswood Vets Why a Cat clinic? We recognise that taking a cat to the vet is often a stressful experience for both cats and their owners. Cats have unique needs so our aim has been to create a calmer and more relaxed environment for cats to receive treatment and to ensure cats are handled with appropriate gentleness and respect at all times, ensuring cat friendly principles are adhered to throughout their care. We have specific equipment with separate reception, consulting rooms, dental prep, 22
a complete pleasure for our ears." The line-up of the August 2021 event included Kova Me Badd, The Boys from County Hell, and Gaz Brookfield and The Company of Thieves. The line-up of the 2022 event will be released in the next few weeks. As well as the music there will be plenty of activities for all the family and food and drink from a variety of locally based vendors, including a licenced bar. Any bands who would like to perform in the Battle of the
Bands should email festival@ mydadsbiggerthanyourdad. co.uk by 31 March, with 'My Dad's battle' in the subject line. They should provide a bio, a picture, a link to their music and ensure that they are available for the dates of the Battle of the Bands as well as the festival itself. The festival also wants to hear from any potential sponsors as well as anyone who would like to book a pitch. Tickets are available now from www. mydadsbiggerthanyourdad. co.uk
Welcome to Swindon's unique Cat only clinic
operating theatre and a new luxury cattery. Our consulting rooms are now equipped with comfy sofas, portable consulting tables, and areas for cats to explore including a floor to ceiling cat tree which seems to be a particular favourite for our visitors so far. We are proud that all of our clinics already have cat friendly practice silver accreditation from the ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine) but we hope that shortly, once all submissions have been made, we will be welcoming you to our Gold accredited cat clinic. The accreditation goes one step forward in ensuring that all aspects of the pet’s stay
have been thought about, not just the front of house that clients can see. It also means our appointed cat advocates ensure gold standards are maintained If you would like more information on visiting our cat
clinic please visit our website or contact the clinic directly on 01793 526780. “In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this” -Terry Pratchett thameswoodvets.co.uk
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LINK
MOTORING
Kia Picanto: Look no further for the ideal small car Leigh Robinson: Motoring writer
The Kia Picanto is probably one of the best small cars around. It is cheap to run, ideal for either town or country, and with the seven-year Kia guarantee which covers 100,000 miles what more could you want? It was first introduced in 2004 as a functional motor but 18 years later it has come on in leaps and bounds. Just like the whole Kia fleet, every one just gets better and better. The transformation of the
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Picanto from the drab and sparse first generation car sees the latest model emphasise style and quality, and there is a better equipped interior with more space. All versions of the Picanto have five doors as standard and there's a simple engine line-up, plus the option of an automatic gearbox. Prices start at £11,450 and run through to £16,250, and the Picanto will give you at least 60
miles to the gallon. Kia scooped awards for emissions, price, running costs, company car tax, practicality and driving experience. While the Picanto is Kia’s smallest car it has a reasonable boot at 255 litres and the emissions are 110g/km. There is plenty of leg room both front and back, bags of storage including two cupholders plus a mobile phone tray. The Picanto's nonturbocharged 66bhp 1.0 MPi is ideal for the size of the car. On the speed
front 0-60mph takes 14 seconds and a bit more for the auto. The turbocharged 1.0 T-GDi with 99bhp, which comes with the top trims, is about four seconds quicker to the magic 60mph. With the two lower trims you get the AM/FM radio, Bluetooth and a 3.8in monochrome screen. Going up a bit to the higher trims you get an 8in colour touchscreen that adds a DAB radio plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring. The X-Line S and GT-Line S have in-built sat-nav. There is a large lip at the entrance to the boot and a step in the extended boot floor when you drop the split-folding rear seats. All models come with an alarm and immobiliser.
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Highway Code changes to support walking and cycling
LINK
CYCLING
Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign. The Highway Code has been updated to help improve road safety and offer greater protection for vulnerable road users in Britain, making it safer for people to make journeys by foot and cycle. The revised Highway Code mainly seeks to clarify existing rules. This includes a Hierarchy of Road Users, where those who have potential to cause the most harm have the greatest responsibilities to protect the vulnerable on the road. Pedestrians are placed at the top of the pyramid as they pose the least risk to other road users, whereas those towards the bottom pose the most risk. This hierarchy gives those that can do the most harm the ‘greatest responsibility’ to look Alfie Howlett: Swindon Town FC writer
‘Dutch Reach’ technique to reduce the likelihood of ‘dooring’ a cyclist when in a stationary vehicle. This technique involves opening the door with your far hand (i.e. your left hand, if you’re the driver) meaning that you are forced to look behind you as you open the door: this increases the likelihood of seeing someone approaching on a bike. There are also new rules relating to crossing side roads, which brings the UK in line with many other European countries. If a vehicle is signalling to turn left or right to/from a main road they should give way to pedestrians and cyclists going straight across the junction. Previously, drivers were only advised to give way when
What can we expect from STFC this season?
In recent weeks Swindon have experienced their first period of turbulence under the new regime. It seems like a long time ago from my previous column where was I tipping them for automatic promotion. So again I will ask the question, what should we realistically expect from this season? The recent form has led to some fans calling for the head of Ben Garner. Despite the results I feel this is unjustified. The song Never Forget by Take That has a lyric which perfectly sums up my argument: "Never forget where you've come here from." It's easy to forget that at the start of the season the aim was to simply stay in the division. On 13 July Swindon lost 3-2 to Hungerford with just 5 first team players in the squad. Just over a week later following the takeover Ben Garner was appointed as 26
out for others, meaning drivers must be more considerate of people cycling, and cyclists must take more care around pedestrians. This rule does not remove the need for everyone to behave responsibly. It's simple, if someone walking or riding a bike makes a mistake, the chances are they are likely to only hurt themselves. On the other hand, if someone driving an SUV makes a mistake they have the potential to seriously injure or even kill another road user. Drivers will now also have to ensure that they pass those on bikes with more care, with a minimum 1.5-meter passing distance being advised. They are also being taught and encouraged to use the
gaffer. With virtually nothing to build upon and a transfer embargo, Garner and his staff had their work cut out. However, after an opening day success the feel good factor was off the scale, and from there the season's trajectory was only heading one way. A win at league leaders Forest Green led to many people including myself asking if simply surviving would be an underachievement. Despite the poor home record Swindon continued to be ever present in the play-off positions thanks to an outstanding ninegame unbeaten away record in the league. In my opinion regardless of what happens from now until the end of the season the first half of the season won't be beaten. The fans had finally got their club back and anything on the pitch was a bonus. However as
the January transfer window opened Swindon found themselves victims of their own success, losing three of their most influential players as they were recalled by their parent club. With key players having departed and Jack Payne injured, the optimistic start to 2022 quickly evaporated with a series of draws and defeats. Now Town are still in touching distance of securing promotion through the play-offs, but they also find themselves close to falling back into mid table. At the start of the season a campaign of consolidation would've been a good start to this new era. But on the other hand if such a good start goes to waste it will feel disappointing. Nonetheless I urge you to stick with Ben Garner whatever the outcome this season. Although it can be said that at times the football
someone stepped onto a road, while pedestrians were told they shouldn’t start to cross until vehicles had stopped. The clarified rule strengthens the rights of pedestrians and cyclists on pavements or cycle paths when crossing or waiting to cross a road. The changes to the Highway Code should make cycling and walking safer and help planners design more direct and attractive routes. Let’s hope that this largescale publicity campaign will make everyone aware of the new rules of the road. A little summary video from Cycling UK to help explain some of the new rules can be found at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=MhWi-9NrJeU
LINK
SPORT has been dull and the results especially at home have been underwhelming, we must not forget that this is anything but a short term project. In my opinion we can only make a fair judgement on Garner next season once the embargo is lifted and he's enjoyed his first full pre-season. One job that Garner was tasked with when arriving at SN1 was to improve younger players. There's no finer example of his work than Ellis Landolo. Swindon's longest serving player has become indispensable this season. Landolo always had talent but at times his final product was lacking. However this season Landolo has put that right, turning provider many times. In addition his versatility has shone through, with him being deployed in both defence and midfield.
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LINK
TRADE PAGES
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LINK
n ELECTRICAL n FOR THE HOME n CLEANING
TRADE PAGES
Swindon Aerial Services
Est 2002
For all your computing needs • Hardware & Software Installs & Upgrades • Repairs • Maintenance • PC Security • Home or Business Networking • Wireless Setup • On Site Service, Home or Business For a dedicated local service with a Microsoft Certified Professional, with over 25 years experience, call 01793 320 439 or 07799 337 918 E: info@compucareuk.com www.compucareuk.com
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BOOK-KEEPING Can’t face doing the books after a hard day’s work? Call Leonard Fuller, A.I.C.B, qualified bookkeeper with over 20 years’ experience.
Tel: 01793 700637 or 07963 637748 www.bookkeepingswindon.co.uk
Electrical Automation • Up & Over • Roller • Sectional • Repairs • Unit 8, Central Trading Estate Signal Way, Swindon SN3 1PD
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Tel 01793 940096 Email info@dgds.co.uk www.dimensions.org.uk swindonlink.com n March 2022
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LINK
TRADE PAGES
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n FOR THE HOME
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LINK
TRADE PAGES
n OUTSIDE THE HOME
J’s Electrical ✭ Extra sockets and lights ✭ Shower and cooker installation ✭ Fuse board replacement ✭ Complete re-wiring ✭ Security lighting ✭ P.A.T. testing ✭ 24 hours
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