THERE have been many protestors expressing their concerns at the building of a much needed and overdue university in Swindon (at Coate).

The protestors fall into two categories: 'out of town critics' who rarely, if ever, visit Swindon, do not know what makes it tick, do not pay local taxes and are not even entitled to the democratic vote in this town. Secondly, we have the Nimbies.

Those in favour are usually prominent and ordinary citizens with a logical desire to see Swindon progress from a redundant railway town via its now amazingly diverse industry, to an internationally recognised centre of excellence having its own advanced technological back up.

Some of the out of town brigade believe the town centre is the best place because, at least one of them, does not believe humans and wildlife can actually co-exist.

Your northern correspondent, sites Oxford and Cambridge as urban examples. Well, these have been in place 500 years at least and in Oxford, with the exception of Ruskin, Nuffield and Brookes (all modern by comparison), colleges are located within tracts of jealously guarded green space and river meadows within the city boundaries. Brookes has made gigantic strides in the 40 years since its precursor was a polytechnic and is now expanding throughout the city. A chance missed by Swindon at that time.

If soulless high rise monuments, as opposed to the salubrious settings of universities like Kent at Canterbury, Sussex at Falmer, Surrey by Guildford Cathedral and the magnificent University of Stirling set around a picturesque loch are to be built, the Lord protect us. Prince Charles might not be happy either!

All options, not just Coate should be seriously considered. Swindon, thanks in part to Burnley Beint now extends over the downs and fields for many miles.

There must be suitable location somewhere where a complex could be built. If Swindon Town FC can find one, so can the university. If Coate is chosen by the people of Swindon via the imminent local elections, then so be it. But it must be built somewhere within the borough.

Why not name it the Richard Jefferies University in Swindon if it is built at Coate? It can hardly be named after the over used Brunel as there is one already at Uxbridge, or for that matter the also over used Great Western title.

A C Carter

Bouverie Avenue