At a time when Fairford is rapidly expanding and has more housing developments in the pipeline, we find we are losing valuable services. 

A few weeks ago, we learned that Glos County Council was closing the Springboard Children’s Centre at Fairford Library; also, although officially not closed, Coln House School has had its pupils withdrawn, staff are on what seems to be “gardening leave” and the whole governing body recently resigned. 

In addition, local bus services were reduced this week, making it difficult for Fairford residents working in Swindon. 

Workers can get to Swindon at the start of the working day, but it is impossible for them to get back to Fairford in the evening unless they leave work early in order to catch the 4.40pm bus! 

A lot of people in Fairford feel that our growing town is being targeted by Glos County Council so that this council can save money. 

Glos County Cllr Paul McLain wrote to me about the children’s centre in Fairford and said: “There are no plans to close this provision.” 

But the Springboard centre will be gone very soon and families needing this service will be expected to travel to Cirencester.

As if these cuts in Fairford’s precious infrastructure are not enough, we heard last week that the only bank in town is going to close as from November 8. 

Lloyds Bank has sent a letter to customers saying that we can still use their Cirencester branch.

They probably don’t realise this is 10 miles away and is difficult and unaffordable for everyone to get to.

We are also told we can use online banking, but not everyone has access to a computer or knows how to use one. 

The current trend in cutting services is alarming to Fairford residents who can see a bleak future of having to travel to Cirencester for their needs or having to miss out on these services altogether.

It is even more worrying to consider the future of the empty Coln House School and vacated Lloyds Bank building.

Many residents predict that Glos County Council will sell off Coln House School to convert to luxury flats and that Lloyds Bank may succumb to the same fate. 

Mrs Chris Roberts MBE
Fairford