I'M another of the growing number of people who are voicing their thoughts on the (non) development of Swindon, most notably the football stadium/sports village.

Again, the town's progress is held back by campaigners who fail to see that Swindon will stagnate if we don't follow the example of David Murray John, who understood the need for growth.

I have a number of friends who live near the community forest/Shaw tip and they were very much in favour of the development but were outnumbered by a vocal minority of NIMBYs selfish enough not to consider the towns needs.

We all know how Swindon is viewed by those outside the town, ie boring, characterless, non-descriptive. The sports village would have really changed that.

I hope the small-minded, inefficient councillors, who claim to want city status, think again before this opportunity is lost.

A COLE

Walcot