I am disappointed, but not altogether surprised, by the outcome of Swindon Borough Council's meeting on Saturday to decide whether or not to go ahead with the Front Garden development.

Let's face it they own 74 per cent of the land and need the money.

What I would like to know is how can it be a democratic, community-led process when they can sit as judge and jury on their own trial?

It is for this reason, if nothing else, that I urge everyone who has objected to this application to write to the Secretary of State and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, demanding that it is called in and that a full scale public inquiry takes place.

There are countless reasons why this development should not go ahead and a public inquiry is the only fair, honest and democratic way forward.

Georgina Mason

Wootton Bassett