Kimmerfields déjà vu

I was intrigued by the latest pronouncement from our local council in which they assert the central town site now called Kimmerfields is hoped to generate investment enquiries for years to come.

Indeed they claim the site has the ‘potential’ to generate an additional £44 million of economic benefit over the next 25 years.

The only problem is that nothing being said today is new.

In March 2011, that’s eleven years ago, it was claimed that the Kimmerfield site “.. will create investment confidence in Swindon town centre and it will attract residential occupiers back into the town centre”.

I think we can all agree that hasn’t happened.

For most Swindon taxpayers the most noticeable change over the years has been the fact that Kimmerfields is the third incarnation of the same project as many of your readers will recall it was The Exchange , followed by Union Square and latterly Kimmerfields.

As for the new Zurich building, would anyone care to ‘open a book’ on when (not if) Swindon Borough Council moves out of the Civic Offices, and Wat Tyler House to occupy a floor or two in the new building.

In the process I reckon the council will pay market rent to Zurich while Zurich enjoy a preferential lease back arrangement with the council.

Des Morgan

Caraway Drive

Swindon

Polish community is an example to us all

I have nothing but admiration for Swindon's Polish community and their friends, of all nations, in their response to the current plight and needs of the Ukranian people.

They are an example to us all - and the same appears to be the case of Polish communities in other cities here in the West!

Sadly, Brexit has meant that the UK is lagging far behind the rest of the EU in supporting the displaced Ukranian people, with visas required before arrival here (as opposed to the rest of Europe, where visas are not required). Sadly, but not surprisingly, no united front!

Then we have the likes of the despicable Priti Patel, our Home Secretary.

Yvette Cooper (Labour Shadow) asked her in the House on Monday if elderly parents were included in family arrangements and if the elderly Ukrainian widow turned away from Eurostar by Border Force at weekend can now join her daughter, here in the UK.

Patel said "yes". Sadly, the widow in question, remains in Paris, with the Home Office saying that only immediate family (spouses/partners/children under 18/people needing care) are covered in family rules after all, but not elderly parents.

Just as pathetic is Torbay MP, and Home Office Minister for Immigration, I kid you not, Kevin Foster who tweeted that there were a "number of routes" for Ukranian refugees, "not least our seasonal worker scheme".

Arrogance and ignorance - you couldn't make it up!

In fairness, South Swindon MP, Sir Robert Buckland - of whom I have been critical of in the past with very good reason - is one of the few Tories to have spoken in favour of relaxing the visa regulations, to allow the Ukranian people easier access to the UK.

Steve Cowdry.

Saddleback Road

Shaw

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