John Doyle's latest letter

[Melksham Red]

Aren't there any non town fan local residents who are for the scheme? It seems at the moment it's just the club and fans bickering with the anti's. Surely it would help our case with the council if a few locals came out and totally backed redevelopment, even though they couldn't give a toss for the club.

[Dazzza]

The reason the club may not have released more details as yet, is because they agreed with the Council not to issue any more releases without both sides first agreeing to the content (Clr Nick Martin decided to ignore this with his recent letter).

I think this was to stop the very problem of both sides just seeming to counter each other through the press.

Cheers Rob, it's probably for the best that nothing is released until at the very least its half way to being feasible.  

I'm not sure with Swindon Link you'll ever get a well written balanced article on anything that doesn't fit with the editor and his crony's philosophies and opinions.  However, like the Blackcurrant said earlier in the thread unless there is something of substance out there it's very easy for your typical Mr Smith to pick up a copy and mistake opinion and presentation as black fact.

As I said I wouldn't pay to much heed to the individual's comments above.  There are points and issues that he skirts upon that really need to be addressed but whether intentional or not the context in which they're presented only gives the impression their inclusion is to further try and pour scorn from up high on his community cloud.

[RobertT]

Problem with the area is that the main voice is the local residents association but the actual area is quite fragmented.  I helped with an environmental survey in 1994 when we were building the Nationwide with plans to do the Bank and TE in the offing.  Most people seriously do not care either way, many practically ignore the fact that it's there at all and have no interest in football.  That won't come across in the press because the Res Assoc sound like they speak for the whole Central Ward.

[Dazzza]

Interesting, have you any idea what percentage of the local population are actually members of the residents association?

Part of the problem that became apparent with Shaw and is again the same where ever you go is it's far easier to turn a photo of a couple of saps with a spade and exaggerate it into a moral crusade.  You then reach the scenario where Mr Smith starts choking on his cornflakes and nails his colours to the mast of the little man versus the big bad company.

Fortunately apathy rules the masses but the club should still really engage the natives individually and in groups.  If they don't want to do it personally hire professionals that will go out and let Dorris have her say then 'convince' her what is actually right.  

It takes ten times the effort to change an individuals mind than it does to make it for them.

[McLovin]

In agreement

THOUGH a Labour supporter and candidate in May's local election, I'd like to write in support of Conservative Coun Martin and his letter re No Public Cash for the Soccer Club, (SA, January 11).

The council has many duties and funding Swindon Town Football Club is not one of them. Coun Martin's letter was spot-on. It is for the board of directors of STFC to fulfil their responsibilities of raising the capital needed for any development, talking to their neighbours and presenting plans that have some semblance of legality and a chance of passing through the planning system.

John Doyle

Shaw and Nine Elms Ward

Swindon

 

He's beginning to get on my nerves...

[Asher]

Small minded people in this town, im close to writing a letter to this paper. so many points are being missed

[McLovin]

Instead of just nay-saying, why doesn't he make constructive suggestions, that may, just may, result in a council owned sports villagey thing for all the community. It's not just about the footy club, John.

[mattboyslim]

I loved the pro ground letters yesterday, thuis guy thought he'd struck gold by suggesting some land up near Blunsdon, for a combined footy, athletics, dog and speedway ground.  Forgetting that footy and athletics should never cohabit, and the dogs and speedway would pretty much be on top of the running track.  I doubt that any of the facilities really bring in enough money either.  It was a valient effort but he must have given it all of 1 seconds thought.

[Simon Pieman]

The bloke's a penis, he has very little knowledge of the situation and is sputing even more ficticious nonsense. I wouldn't mind as much if he made points based on facts.

[Dazzza]

He's running for councillor and as you would expect simply trying to raise his profile by any way possible.

He's a bit pathetic really and what most people would politely refer to as a prat.

[Melksham Red]

I impolitely refer to him as a cunt.

[Ironside]

I will beat the fuck out of him one day I fucking swear.

[walrus]

God help him if he's black as well...