I WOULD like to reply to the letter sent by Ms Saunders on April 26 where she suggests that I, along with others, should hang our heads in shame for daring to support the provision of a university on land adjacent to the Coate Water Park.

No, Ms Saunders, I will not hang my head in shame, I will hold it high. I have received unsolicited mail, visits to my councillor's surgery and from conversations during the recent general election, that clearly indicate while you may have persuaded 17,000 people to sign your petition, there is an overwhelming majority of people who want the university and who see it as an essential part of Swindon's prosperity for the future.

I welcome your organisation and others who campaign for restraint in the development of Swindon but, do not go away with the idea that people like me do not also campaign on similar issues. It was me that was at the forefront of the campaign in the council to stop the developers building on the Shaw Forest site. I am proud to be the people's representative for Parks. I am also willing to take the difficult decisions, which you are obviously not. It is not feasible to provide the sort of university we want for Swindon in the centre of Swindon however, the university will have a large presence there as well as at its current site Oakfield.

Coun B Thompson

Swindon