There's been an item of good news in the local paper this morning. It seems the government has decided not to force housing development in the Swindon area, or at least look at proposals again, which means the much-criticised Coate Water scheme and the bigger East Swindon scheme will now remain in limbo until someone makes a definitive decision.

The current buzzword in Swindon is asbestos. Our buildings are riddled with the stuff, including schools and public facilities. More than 11,000 council homes and 40 schools according to the front page story this morning. My uncle died from asbestosis, a lingering and excruciatingly painful end to his life he never deserved, yet the experts are telling us it's all okay as long as the stuff isn't disturbed. So what happens when the inevitable development occurs?

Many years ago I flew over Swindon and it was something of an eye-opener to see just how much land was abandoned or unused within the town. Now that was after the railworks had closed. Swindons Great Western Railway based their engineering here and for a long time the 'A' shed was the biggest industrial unit under one roof in the world. I watched the demolition of that shed and remember that massive multi-ridged roof stubbornly hanging on to three walls. Of course it's all gone. The old sheds, even the wagon works that lingered on as premises for ailing industries, have been demolished, and for the most part those sites have now been redeveloped.

Is that a good thing? Well, on the one hand, land has been freed up for housing and businesses, but a part of me regrets the passing of that Victorian industrial landscape, as grim and sooty as it was. But nothing stays the same, so the old era has been levelled and a new one built on it's grave. Sadly though progress isn't always desirable. There's a small farm in Rodbourne that was once on the edge of town beside the rail works. Now it's surrounded by an urban landscape and I see the owner is finally surrendering to developers and selling up to make room for seventy five homes. I'm just so used to seeing the farm working, small flocks of sheep chewing listlessly as they watch the world go by, and another familiar part of my childhood enviroment vanishes forever.

Stars of the Week

It seems my astrological readings are becoming less challenging and more inclined toward opportunity. Funny that. It seems to be a perpetual circumstance. Things can only get better say the astrologers. Sometimes you wish they would get better at reading the stars.