The Shrivenham ambulance saga has been rumbling on for too long, and I am dismayed at the load of waffle I read in your paper, particularly from the Wiltshire Ambulance Service.

Locally, we were given to understand the deal had been done and would start at the beginning of the year; now Wiltshire decides it requires a huge increase in resources. What was priced into the original funding, or is this a ransom demand, analogous to holding all the marbles and shooting first? Can extra staff, vehicles and training really be justified exclusively for this service?

We are indeed most fortunate to be served here by an excellent medical practice, but the emergency services in this area are, at best, minimal, and receding year on year.

Community policing based on Wantage is almost non-existent, and although we have some fire service cover from the RMCS (not Oxfordshire) the MOD have stated they are reviewing the need for this service, yet another cause for discontent in this community.

We are the poor relations in the county, and yet are still asked to pay more by way of council tax rises; nobody minds paying, providing the goods are delivered. The time is fast approaching when I, and perhaps many others, may decide enough is enough, and refuse to pay any increases above inflation without justification.

Perhaps we would be better off in Wiltshire; at least we would have an ambulance service, a fire service at Stratton (four miles), and a police station at Highworth (three miles).

So near and yet so far.

Eric Pinchin

Shrivenham