WITH reference to your reports on the Home Office being interested in a possible prison in the Coate Area.

The hospital and university development would be good for the town. A prison would not really be appropriate to the area.

The Home Office has been interested in a prison in the Swindon area for some time. When the plans for the Northern Development were published they approached me (as chief executive of the council) and asked what land, preferably publicly owned, was available in that area.

I replied truthfully, if a little tongue in cheek, that all the land was allocated for housing, shopping, and commercial use. They did not pursue the matter at that time.

D Kent

Swindon