Swindon Borough and Wiltshire County Council have put their own interests above those of Record Office users.

The proposed new facility will be positioned right next to a very large electrical substation in Cocklebury Road.

This substation is substantially larger than those used in residential areas.

The impact of significant electromagnetic fields on the human body over prolonged periods is, as yet, poorly understood.

A commission has stated: "There has been a large body of high quality data for childhood cancer, and also for adult leukaemia and brain tumor in relation to occupational exposure."

Record office users and employees will spend many hours working within such a field.

The councils are left with two alternatives: to move the facility away from the field or to move the substation. Merely locating the car parking area next to the substation will not resolve the problem.

D M Colcomb

Devizes