The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald - Stories for 19 January 2006

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Wiltshire | Archive | 2006 | January

Stories for 19 January 2006

Amesbury Letters

Councillors must stick to their guns

FURTHER to the article Stonehenge appeal may prove costly' (Salisbury Journal, November 10), it must be hoped that Salisbury district councillors stick to their guns over the absolutely correct decision to refuse planning permission for this crass and environmentally damaging scheme. more...

Make A303 a complete dual carriageway

YET another steering group is to be set up to try and solve the traffic problems on the A303. more...

Calne News

Family hit by second death

LOVING father Maurice Goodship died at the weekend just days after hearing the date of the inquest into the tragic death of his son, Paul. more...

Tributes paid to club boss

TRIBUTES have been pouring in after the death of Calne Town Football Club chairman Steve Walker on Tuesday. Mr Walker, 53, died in the Royal United Hospital in Bath after a battle with cancer. more...

Mini bus helps pupils in danger of failing

PUPILS in danger of quitting secondary school are being helped by the donation of a mini bus. more...

New priest fills the gap left by prayer book row

A new priest in charge of Oldbury benefice has been appointed, ending an interregnum of more than a year created when the Rev Bob Hurley left under a cloud. more...

Hotel owners reassure staff

THE new owners of the Lansdowne Strand Hotel in Calne have said they see a bright future for the business after purchasing it last week. more...

Councillor pays tribute to ex-sports minister

TORY councillor John Ireland has expressed his sadness at the death of former Labour MP Tony Banks a man he arrested while working as a police officer in London. more...

Licensing case is thrown out

Landlord Donal O'Dwyer is celebrating now a charge of selling alcohol without a licence has been thrown out by magistrates. more...

The repossession that nearly went with a bang

BAILIFF Dennis Rigley found more than he bargained fopr when he repossessed a home in Calne he found seven sticks of homemade dynamite in the empty property. more...

Police in new drive to crack down on yobs

POLICE are calling on people in Calne and Corsham to join the fight against anti social behaviour by taking advantage of a new initiative. more...

Chippenham News

Drug user seen stealing phones

A WOMAN is awaiting sentencing after she pleaded guilty to stealing three phones from Curry's in Chippenham and handling a stolen mobile phone. more...

Gridlock sparks call for a bypass

A car crash which forced the closure of one of Chippenham's main arterial routes and caused traffic chaos has prompted renewed calls for a bypass to be built around the town. more...

Warning to hospital visitors as bug attacks

BOSSES at Chippenham Hospital are urging visitors to be extra vigilant after an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting. The move comes after two wards were closed to new admissions. more...

Town to salute its historic links with Brunel

CHIPPENHAM will be honouring the impact world-renowned engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel had on the town, at his 200th birthday celebrations in April. more...

Peruvian trek in memory of cancer victim

DEVASTATED by the sudden death of her uncle from cancer in 2004, Nikki Murphy decided to do something positive in his memory. more...

Spare our landmark tree, plead protesters

A FERVENT campaign has been launched this week to save a Cocklebury Road landmark the historic tree that divides the road in two. more...

Thief caught on CCTV

CHIPPENHAM man Scott Wilson will be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to two charges of theft. more...

Bus station loos doomed

Health and safety improvements that will sweep away the toilet block at Chippenham bus station are due to start in March. more...

Warning after abduction scare at match

PARENTS of young footballers across North Wiltshire have been sent letters warning them to be on their guard after a suspected abduction attempt on an 11-year-old boy. more...

Pioneering eco-friendly homes for prime site

The sale of the cattle market site in the heart of Chippenham has paved the way for the building of 265 new homes in the first North Wiltshire eco-friendly housing development. more...

Green light for new flats plan

Plans to demolish 20 garages and build eight two-bedroom flats in their place for social housing have been given the green light. more...

Testing time for base

THE new Station Commander at RAF Lyneham has spoken for the first time about the challenges the base faces over the next few years. more...

Benefits cheat asks for prison sentence

A CHIPPENHAM mum who cheated the state out of more than £28,000 asked a Crown Court judge to jail her. more...

Stické situation

IT is perhaps the only sport in the world where everyone who plays has a world ranking. more...

Corsham News

School’s teaching and care praised by Ofsted

WHOOPS of joy rang around The Corsham School this week as staff and pupils celebrated a glowing Ofsted report. more...

Birthday treble is a 48 million to one shot

JANUARY 9 is hardly a day Emma Gingell will forget it is her, her daughter and now her baby son's birthday. more...

Appeal for aid with projects

CORSHAM'S Area Community Partnership urging people to come forward and make a difference to the town. more...

Troubled youth centre gets a new start again

THE Mansion House Youth Development Centre in Corsham is reopening this week, two months after bad behaviour by some of the teenagers forced its closure. more...

Angler nets a fine of £1,000

ILLEGAL fisherman Patrick Wyles thought he would get off the hook by appealing against a conviction for working a lake without a permit but he netted himself more than £1,000 in fines for wasting the court's time. more...

Devizes News

Violent videos fed son’s obsession

CLARKE MURDER TRIAL: MARTIAL arts fanatic Michael Clarke, who is accused of stabbing his parents to death, fuelled his obsession by watching videos of men fighting with knives, a court heard on Tuesday. more...

Jury visits crime scene

CLARKE MURDER TRIAL: A QUIET suburban street on the outskirts of Melksham was turned into an extension of Bristol Crown Court yesterday when the jury in the Clarke murder trial were shown round the house where the bodies of the couple were found. more...

PC struck as he directs traffic after accident

A ROOKIE policeman was left in a critical condition after being hit by a car while attending an accident on the A346 Chiseldon to Marlborough road last Friday evening. more...

Lidl planning to extend store

DISCOUNT store Lidl has applied for planning permission to build an extension to its store in London Road. more...

Loving son has darker side, murder trial told

CLARKE MURDER TRIAL: MARTIAL arts expert Michael Clarke stabbed his parents to death before calmly attending a rock concert with his friends, a court heard. more...

Affordable flats block for old cattle market

SARSEN Housing Association has submitted its plan to build 24 flats in New Park Street, Devizes, as part of the redevelopment of the North Gate site. more...

Tenants up in arms over abuse of private parking

SARSEN Housing Association tenant Mandy Rowley is calling for action to stop people abusing car parking provided for residents of flats in Sheep Street, Devizes. more...

Success leads to expansion

A THRIVING club for retired business people in Devizes is planning to start a second club. more...

Thief steals rings from antiques emporium

DEVIZES antiques shop owners Molly and Andrew Hopkins were conned by a would be customer who stole rings worth £951. more...

Thieves steal wheelchair

DISABLED Trevor Bridgeman has lost his independence after someone stole his wheelchair. more...

Rare breeds farmer has plans for organic shop

RARE breeds farmer Pat Holloway is planning to diversify by opening a farm shop. more...

Walkers angered by tree felling

Walkers who use a bridleway in Market Lavington were appalled to see that a small copse of trees had been savagely cut back. more...

Thieves strike on same day

POLICE are searching for shoplifters who struck at Woolworths in Devizes in two incidents on January 10. more...

Trees and cards boost recycling targets

KENNET residents have got the recycling bug, according to the district council. Recycling officer Mary Treneer said she was delighted at the response to Christmas recycling efforts. more...

Dual use path is to go ahead

DEVIZES Town Council has finally agreed to donate a strip of land next to The Green to enable a joint cycleway and footpath to be created in Nursteed Road. more...

PC red faced over accident

POLICE called to help an injured motorcyclist in a road accident were astonished to find it was one of their colleagues. more...

Fond memories of the street where we lived

RESIDENTS of old Sheep Street in Devizes, which was redeveloped in the late 1950s, enjoyed a trip down memory lane on Friday when they attended the opening of a new exhibition at Wiltshire Heritage Museum. more...

Play warns old of doostep con

DEVIZES schools will be hosting Age Concern's play, Trickster, from March 20 to 24 as part of the charity shops' campaign to stop elderly people being accosted by rogue salesmen. more...

Gazette Chippenham Town Fc

Ducks waddle in to upset Perrin

DAVE Gilroy's late penalty at Aylesbury on the opening day of the season saved Darren Perrin from starting his Chippenham career with a defeat. more...

Gazette Football

Ref Hunt set to blow final whistle

AFTER 35 years of service, referee Gary Hunt will blow his whistle for the final time on Saturday. more...

Gazette General Sport

Teenage sprinter’s shock invitation

ATHLETICS: CHIPPENHAM sprinter Elaine O'Neill has described her shock at the news she will go to the World Indoor Trials to compete for a place on the Great Britain athletics team. more...

Gazette Sue Pycroft Column

Visit to the pet shop

I'M half a mile from the supermarket I've just visited after work when I realise that I've forgotten cat food, so I head for the little pet shop on the corner which I haven't been in for at least a decade, and it's only when I open the door that I realise I've practically wasted the last ten years. more...

Letters

Crusade against gridlock

ONCE again the Gazette contains letters objecting, quite rightly, to the planning permission given for various sites which will lead to London Road becoming gridlocked. more...

Legal cost could put off our potential councillors

EXACTLY a week ago I sat through a five-hour tribunal hearing of the Standards Board of England where my husband Coun Bill Cavill was cleared of the accusation that he failed to register an interest. more...

Frivolous but a threat

I WAS delighted to see that Coun Bill Cavill had his name cleared in the recent local government standards tribunal but appalled that he to go through this ordeal in the first place. more...

Residents come first

ON the matter of residents' parking, I looked out recently from my living room, which was tinged with dull orange light from a TNT delivery truck. more...

Where do we park?

DO the councillors and their consultants Gillespies who they employ to re-generate Devizes read the Gazette where it was stated that a proposed 830 houses are planned for Devizes. more...

Not an architect

I WRITE in respect of the article reporting on a case in Devizes Magistrates Court on January 9 at which I was not present. more...

A Comedy of Errors?

I MUST add my full support to the comments made by our MP Michael Ancram, ie consultations after decisions have been made makes authority look like a farcical Comedy of Errors. more...

Hospital visit plea

WILL the lady and gentleman from Devizes whom I met in the Brunel Treatment Centre, Great Western Hospital on Monday afternoon, November 28 please contact me on (01672) 520913. We visited together to see Mr Brooks. more...

Local causes helped

THANK you for the report on the Hans Jensen Trust and the Hans Jensen School in Cambodia. There is, however, one point I need to clarify. The collection at my husband's funeral in May was for the benefit of two local charities. more...

Palatial difference

THE national press reported on Prescott's and Blunkett's failure to pay their council tax. They also said that Blunkett's council tax on his Band H property in Belgravia, Westminster, (a very prestigious address) was £1,236. My band F property here in Chippenham costs £1,802. more...

Runner-up support

I WAS amazed to see the comments by local Conservative council group leader Toby Sturgis on the resignation of our local Conservative councillor Elford. more...

WC needed by many

RE the story Flak flies as councillor quits after four months' and By-election a waste of money' (Letters) I continue, yes, as a district councillor, to fight for a scheme that will provide an acceptable replacement of public conveniences on the Timber Street Bus Station site. more...

Tree deserves to stay

WE cannot understand why it has now become necessary to remove the wonderful Cocklebury Road tree which has been a part of the local scene for many many years. more...

No change on tree

HAVING grown up on Monkton Park where my father still lives, I was very shocked, upset and concerned to learn of the loss of the Cocklebury Road tree. more...

Council vandalism?

THIS tree has stood in place for many years, and has never been the subject of controversy before. It has been instrumental in saving accidents at what otherwise would be a very dangerous bend. more...

Thanks for your help

I am writing to thank three very kind people who picked me up after a fall near the canal bridge before Christmas. more...

Malmesbury News

Rising costs set back for school

Spiralling costs have set back the building of a new primary school for Malmesbury by up to three months more. more...

Water crisis at barracks

Dozens of Army families are struggling to cope without running water following a mystery breakdown in supply at Buckley Barracks, in Hullavington. more...

Aunt speaks of fears the night niece went missing

Relieved Diane Day has spoken of the terror and desperation she went through as police searched for her missing niece. more...

Pre-school in desperate race against the clock

STAFF and parents at a homeless pre-school are facing a desperate race against the clock to raise £35,000 to secure new premises before the summer. more...

Large grant required for community hall upgrade

Luckington Community Primary School has applied for £15,500 district council funding towards a £143,000 upgrade of the school hall to provide a community meeting place. more...

Groom’s flat wins approval

Plans to convert an old building at Field Cottage to create groom's accommodation have been approved providing a legal agreement is drawn up preventing the flat being sold as a separate home. more...

Nurse’s job is saved by colleague’s offer of lifts

AUXILIARY nurse Sandy Pillotson, who was due to resign from Malmesbury Hospital's Abbey Ward today, has been saved from leaving her job. more...

‘Poor design’ turned down

Plans to build five new homes at The Cedars in Lea have been rejected by North Wiltshire District Council's development control committee because of cramped space and poor design. more...

Marlborough News

Rookie PC hit by car at scene of accident

Rookie policeman Ian Hollis was left in a critical condition after being hit by a car while attending an earlier accident on the A346 Marlborough to Swindon road. more...

New setback for school plan

KENNET councillors are being recommended to refuse planning permission for St John's School's amended plans to build 174 homes. more...

Police shock at horse attacks

MARLBOROUGH police are investigating two separate attacks on horses. In the first attack a seven-year-old gelding suffered a puncture wound to his right hand side. more...

Motorists go back to bad habits after warden quits

THE number of complaints about people parking illegally in Marlborough rose significantly following the departure of controversial traffic warden Robin Adams, a police officer has claimed. more...

Concern aired over shop plan

MARLBOROUGH town councillors have objected to plans to change the use of the former newsagents in the High Street to either a financial services office or yet another food outlet. more...

Ex college pupil dies in vicious attack

THE victim of a senseless knife attack in London last Thursday evening was a former Marlborough College pupil, it has emerged. more...

Roll up to join new players

THE first home-grown production of a modern classic play in Marlborough for many years will open at the end of April or beginning of May, it is hoped. more...

Third crash fuels fight for greater road safety

PARENTS in Beckhampton, between Avebury and Marlborough, are campaigning for greater road safety after the third serious accident in the village in as many weeks. more...

Crowd make light of the heavy going

THE weather may have been gloomy and the going muddy but it did not stop point-to-point fans enjoying the two-day meeting at Barbury racecourse near Marlborough. more...

New Forest Letters

Dog waste: Need for co-operation

I WOULD like to respond to the letter (Postbag, December 22) from Mr Dickenson, of NFDog, to help clarify the position. more...

Parking clock idea

I AGREE that the £80 parking clocks are tempting targets for thieves (Forest Journal, last week). more...

New Forest News

Meals on wheels shake-up

A RADICAL shake-up of the meals-on-wheels service in Fordingbridge has forced a recently honoured community stalwart to resign after more than 20 years of dedicated work with the underprivileged. more...

Road closure plan angers residents

ANGRY campaigners against road closure proposals in Verwood spoke out at a Local Action Group last week. more...

Pewsey News

Tributes paid to car crash victim

VILLAGERS in Woodborough, near Pewsey, are in shock this week after popular resident Anthony May was killed in a road crash at Clench Common. more...

Ram-raid gang fail in bid to steal cash machine

POLICE have launched a hunt for a gang of up to five men behind a ram-raid at the Londis convenience store in Pewsey High Street yesterday morning. more...

Award salutes tennis stalwart’s service to sport

PRESIDENT of Pewsey Tennis Club Bob Harris has been given national recognition for more than 40 years' service to the sport in the area. more...

Councillors fear plan to charge for car parking

PARISH councillors in Pewsey fear that a car parking survey being undertaken by Kennet could be a back-door way of introducing charges in the village's car parks. more...

It’s all downhill in Olympic village

Shelley Rudman is the first athlete from Pewsey to be selected for the Olympic Games since Bill Amor ran down the wing for England's football team in the summer of 1948. more...

Salisbury Children'S Page

Potty about pottery

Hi, everyone, and welcome to the Journal Gang. more...

Salisbury City Fc News

Junior Whites round-up (weekend Jan. 14/15)

THE weekend produced a number of noteworthy results and performances from City's junior players. more...

Junior Whites round-up (weekend Jan. 14/15)

THE weekend produced a number of noteworthy results and performances from City's junior players. more...

Journal pics

TODAY'S Salisbury Journal devotes four pages of coverage to Salisbury City's victory at Canvey Island and includes a number of photos from the momentous day. more...

Journal pics

TODAY'S Salisbury Journal devotes four pages of coverage to Salisbury City's victory at Canvey Island and includes a number of photos from the momentous day. more...

Heading to Hitchin?

DIRECTIONS for City supporters planning on heading to Hitchin on Saturday. more...

Salisbury City Fc Reports

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Canvey!

CANVEY Island felt like a victory for the team not just the 11 men on the pitch but the whole team players, directors, officials and friends of the club. more...

Salisbury Letters

Life bond is for man and woman

IN response to Richard Harvey's letter (Postbag, January 5), although Jesus did not criticise homosexuals, he certainly did not advocate the homosexual act. more...

No choice in orientation

WHEN did you decide to become heterosexual? more...

Consult pensioners

I'M sure all pensioners are delighted to get a free TV licence at 75 (Journal Postbag, January 5), assuming they live long enough to enjoy it. more...

Don't cut arts funding - raise council tax

I AM appalled by the short-sighted suggestion of Salisbury district council cutting funding to the arts. more...

No cheap day out any more

IT was Bank Holiday Monday and the last day of the Christmas holiday before going back to work. more...

Salisbury News

Mayhem vandals go on rampage

MINDLESS vandals have trashed the former Wilton Middle School, causing thousands of pounds' worth of damage. more...

Hospital uses fines to tackle 'bed-blocking'

FED-UP bosses at Salisbury District Hospital are slapping fines on Wiltshire county council, in a bid to free beds of patients fit to leave but with nowhere to go. more...

Lib-Dems respond to budget row

SALISBURY Liberal Democrats have welcomed the council's decision not to close sports facilities in south Wiltshire but say they fear more financial trouble could be brewing. more...

Stfc Headlines

Good move!

JAMIE Cureton will view Lee Peacock's arrival at the County Ground as a very good capture' should a deal for the player reach a successful conclusion. more...

Good move!

JAMIE Cureton will view Lee Peacock's arrival at the County Ground as a very good capture' should a deal for the player reach a successful conclusion. more...

Balancing act for Iffy

MANAGER Iffy Onuora is anxious to keep his players hungry' for the current fight although tentative future contract discussions are now underway with several members of his squad. more...

Shakes can go one better than his boss

RICKY Shakes' international story has yet to be written but Iffy Onuora sees no reason why it shouldn't have a happier ending than his own, writes JON RITSON. more...

Swindon And Proud Campaign

Let us show you why we’re Swindon ...and Proud of It

FASHION guru Wayne Hemingway whose insults inspired the Advertiser's Swindon and Proud Of It campaign is heading to town. more...

Swindon Business Headlines

Marathon man strikes a deal

THE man who ran six marathons in six days, including one across Death Valley in the USA, is involved in a new banking deal. more...

Competition is our biggest challenge say small businesses

Britain's small businesses see the increasing might of their larger competitors as the most significant challenge to their future, according to new research from Lloyds TSB Business and the SERT team at the Open University. more...

Outlook is same as it was before

Contrary to other recent surveys suggesting a pick-up in the economy, the latest GfK survey of 500 business leaders, for the Institute of Directors, shows that business confidence is flat. more...

Inflation’s on target

Cheaper pump prices last month drove inflation back to the Bank of England's two per cent target for the first time since June, official figures showed. more...

Ruling is welcomed

Sainsbury's Bank welcomed the ruling from the European Court of Justice which states that all airlines must legally provide care and compensation for delayed passengers. more...

‘Property is best’

Mortgage brokers think people will make more money by investing in property rather than shares over the next five years, according to research by UCB Home Loans. But the results are not clear cut. more...

‘Property is best’

Swindon Football

Late strike costs Ciren vital point

A LATE winner denied Cirencester Town a deserved point against Midland Junior Premier League under 13 leaders Walsall. more...

Swindon General Sport

Solid Howell is in touch

GOLF: DAVID Howell made a steady start at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship this morning. The Swindon man birdied the sixth hole, but then bogeyed the next to lie at level par after eight holes. more...

I’m a survivor

MOTORCYCLING: The gruelling Paris-Dakar Rally claimed another life earlier this month. ANDY CRYER speaks to local man Dave Hammond about his own brush with death in the race. more...

Bourne again

BOXING: JAMIE Cox's Commonwealth Games' bid is back on track thanks to the generosity of his Swindon supporters. more...

Druids stand in way of Bassett treble

VOLLEYBALL: WOOTTON Bassett A are looking to stay on course for a historic treble when they host Salisbury at the Lime Kiln Centre on Sunday night, 7.15pm. more...

Elver’s got a point to make

FENCING: ROB Elver is having a stab at the big time after making his debut for the Great Britain junior fencing team at the weekend. more...

Swindon Letters

It’s better now

R W SELWAY'S picture of Gordon Brown bleeding the country dry and forcing senior citizens to grovel (SA Jan 13) differs from my own experience. more...

Tax needed to fund services

THOSE people who complain about council tax should consider where the money is spent. more...

Give us some real options to consider

SOME weeks ago (SA, Dec 21) Coun Wakefield chose to defend relinquishing decisions to outsiders, and to flag up his pride in Swindon. He questioned where the heart was of Mr Beint from Burnley. more...

New route for 15 bus is terrible

I HAVE been asked by many people again to write and complain about the unbelievably stupid re-routing of our number 15 bus. more...

Festive cheer

THE Wanborough Handbell Ringers have, as in previous years, been ringing their selection of seasonal tunes over the Christmas period. more...

Mini marvels

RE: LEIGH Robinson's article (Drive, Friday, Jan 13) reporting on the proposed BMW Mini Traveller and the success of BMW Mini with sales of more than 700,000 worldwide since 2001. more...

Up the wall!

I WILL bet the residents of Springfield Road, The Bramptons, Tithe Barn Crescent, Broome Manor Lane and all the outlying villages were green with envy when they saw the Prime Minister cleaning up our walls last week. more...

Little choice

WHAT a choice. One party leader can't be trusted to be honest, one is an alcoholic and the third wants to ban our chocolate. No wonder I vote UKIP. more...

Swindon News

Dot.com whizz calls in the FBI

Dollar millionaire Alex Tew has had to call in the American FBI after blackmailers intermittently closed down his website. more...

Town fans get blame for match day disorder

THE man in charge of policing Swindon Town's games says the trouble at Saturday's match against Gillingham is among the worst he's seen in five years. more...

Designer to exhibit at national garden show

A MOTHER of two is to receive international recognition for a gardening hobby that she turned into a career. more...

Swindon slammed on reality show

CELEBRITY Big Brother contestants are using their time in the house to take part live TV romps, suicidal outbursts and discussions about Swindon, of all things. more...

Celebration as special measures left behind

A PENHILL primary school is celebrating after dragging itself out of special measures. more...

TV vote to decide cash bid

THE Science Museum is bidding for lottery millions to kick-start its plans for a massive tourist attraction at Wroughton airfield. But it is TV viewers who will have the ultimate say if the scheme is to get the money. more...

Safety fears as ‘calming’ road works cause chaos

A RODBOURNE Cheney man fears that somebody could be killed as a result of traffic calming work in Pinehurst. more...

Worst school in England - How did we let them down?

HEADLANDS: Headlands has been named the worst school in England. more...

'We are on the way up'

HEADLANDS: Head teacher confident that school will improve after getting lowest score in the country more...

Shock at school’s poor rating

HEADLANDS: Politicians and education bosses alike have reacted with a mixture of shock and horror following the revelation that Headlands is the worst performing school in the country. more...

Academy plan might accelerate

HEADLANDS: Headlands School's position at the foot of the national school rankings could accelerate its switch into academy status, according to one Swindon councillor. more...

Inspectors happy with progress

HEADLANDS: Headlands may sit bottom of the secondary schools league table, but it is making satisfactory progress according to Ofsted. more...

From pupil to MP

HEADLANDS: Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper went to Headlands from 11 to 16. His parents still live opposite the school. more...

Students are praised for their hard work

SWINDON'S headteachers praised the hard work of their staff and pupils, but asked for more hard work and recognition of value added teaching. more...

Town fails to stop slide in league table

SWINDON has failed to stop its slide down the academic league tables, dropping five more places to 109th out of the country's 150 local education authorities. more...

‘Tables don’t reflect all that we provide’

WHILE some schools celebrated high levels of achievement, other colleges criticised the way that the statistics had been put together. more...

Don’t drive and phone!

NEARLY 30 motorists have been caught out in a crackdown on drivers using mobile phones. more...

Trip leads to jail sentence

A MAN who was high on drugs when he burgled two houses on the edge of Swindon has been jailed for more than four years. more...

Let us show you why we’re Swindon ...and Proud of It

FASHION guru Wayne Hemingway whose insults inspired the Advertiser's Swindon and Proud Of It campaign is heading to town. more...

Service is to get new name

WILTSHIRE Ambulance Service is to change its name to the Great Western Ambulance Service. more...

One-way system is over – for now

A ONE-WAY traffic system, which has caused traffic chaos in Wootton Bassett High Street, has been removed. more...

End of road for BMW offices

A LANDMARK building at one of Swindon's biggest employers is to be demolished. more...

Alex targeted by high-tech scam

DOT.com millionaire Alex Tew has had to call in the American FBI after extortionists blackmailed his website. more...

Three learn to take the lead

THREE Swindon councillors who went back to school for a leadership course say they enjoyed the experience. more...

They call it puppy love

TAILS were wagging all round after a stolen litter of puppies was reunited with their mum. more...

Residents’ voice heard on budget

SWINDON residents have been taking up the opportunity to give their views on next year's council budget. more...

Warden scheme grows

A NEIGHBOURHOOD warden scheme in West Swindon and the Railway Village is to be extended. more...

Chance to dig for victory

ALLOTMENT holders can give their views on a proposed shake-up of the town's facilities. more...

Second-homers face council tax discount cut

PEOPLE in Swindon who own two homes face a big cut in the amount of discount they receive on their council tax. more...

Clocked car put on eBay

SELLING a clocked' car on auction website eBay has cost Swindon businessman Neil Ovens £5,000 after he was convicted of deception. more...