I WAS both saddened and astonished by our MP Michael Wills' letter in the Evening Advertiser, February 5.

Labour has poured money into the town it says, but what are the facts? The Rate Support Grant from Central Government is now six per cent less than it was in 1997, which means that Swindon Council now needs to find an extra £11m in order to stand still and £11m is equivalent to about 18 per cent of Council Tax. Mr Wills goes on to enquire why years after the Conservative Group promised to transform the performance of Swindon Council it remains one of the worst in the country. Perhaps Mr Wills would do well to keep in touch with local events for there has only been a majority Conservative administration for the last seven months of the preceding 25 years.

DR C O LISTER

Whitworth Road, Swindon