WE have lived in Sparcells for more than ten years now and have a little boy.

We have looked forward over the years to the development of the community forest and have enjoyed the privilege of taking long walks through the Allied Dunbar conservation area, often seeing deer on the hillsides a family of five at the last count.

Not many people can boast that kind of view.

We have loved living in Sparcells and had no plans to move as we believed that it was such a lovely place to live.

We are now concerned and appalled that this will now be lost forever if this stadium is built on our doorstep.

We can be called NIMBY all you like but if you faced such a loss then you would do all you could to stop it.

It is our view that Swindon Borough Council cannot be trusted with anything they say or do they promised us a forest and have now reneged on that in exchange for a good old-fashioned pay off.

The consideration of home owners, despite being the electorate who put the councillors in power, is not taken into account, it is merely paid lip service.

This fact is highlighted when concerned residents make their concerns public and are threatened by the council.

The signs on Hillmead Drive were an inspiration to us all and the council's reaction just shows how it views residents' opinions.

As for the comments in the Advertiser from Mr Devlin, chairman of STFC, about people being "frightened" of change, how patronising.

It's not change people are afraid of but the destruction of wildlife and forest and the impact of such a horrific idea on the local community.

I think we should all withhold payment of our council tax that might make the officials at the council take note.

THE WATKINS FAMILY

Sparcells, Swindon