I READ with dismay the story of the ransacking of the Penhill emergency shelter. Vandalism of an empty building? Well, there's a surprise.

To leave a house unoccupied for over two months while waiting for refurbishment is to invite this kind of anti-social behaviour.

Is there really no family, or four singles, who wouldn't be only too happy to live in the house before, and even during, this refurbishment?

We in the private sector are only too aware of the possibility, probability even, of vandalism not to mention the loss of income during these three months. The latter alone would ensure a hefty loss taken over the year.

I realise that it's difficult for council employees to see this as an actual loss rather than a form to fill in, or another meeting to be held, but surely there is someone in the environment and property section with a bit of foresight and commonsense, or am I being naive?

So it is once again the council taxpayer who will have to shell out between £2,000 and £5,000, not to mention the loss of rental income, to repair the damage. Swindon Council has to realise that, being one of the worst councils in the country, it needs help from people who know what it means to pay out such sums from their own pocket for such foreseeable events, rather than just add it to the council tax burden. Has any such attempt been made?

D KAVANAGH

Swindon