So Swindon's new Labour leader is to be David Nash. Is this the same person that as a prospective councillor attended all the Broadgreen Community council meetings and even joined, placard in hand, with the protest against the proposed bail hostel a number of years ago? Surely not.

I may be wrong, but as far as I'm aware, since becoming a Central councillor, Mr Nash has failed to attend any community council meetings, not the best way to back up Kevin Small's demise as Labour group leader after claims he didn't devote time to the job!

This claim could also be put at Coun Nash's door as he doesn't appear to be taking much interest in his ward's views.

Coun Nash also believes that regaining people's trust is Labour's first priority and he is committed to finding ways to reconnect with people.

Maybe he should try acting at ground level, no connections can be made without at least some talking to the people who elected him in the first place.

The Central ward does have a very enthusiastic councillor in Sinead Darker, who participates in the issues that affect this area.

It's a shame the Labour group didn't appreciate their former councillor, John Taylor.

By forcing him into a position where he had to resign, mainly because he was forward thinking and asked questions about policies and recommendations other councillors accepted, Central ward lost the best councillor we had had for many years.

I hope Coun Nash will take a leaf from John Taylor's book by taking an active role in the central area, attend community council meetings and show us the support he demonstrated in the past.

Kevin Leakey

Salisbury Street, Swindon