Most of what the Labour Party at government level is doing for communities is supposed to promote the involvement of local people in decision-making.

This is to ensure that they feel they are stakeholders in all that goes on around them and that they can make a difference.

Hopefully this will ensure a much improved turn out to the ballot box and more and a better calibre of people standing for public office.

Of course, it's not until you are empowered in this way that you can see truly the quality of those that you blindly voted in before.

The people of Swindon (that's the ones that live here) for years said how important the Coate area is to them, but we still had a new hospital built on it, despite protests from most North Swindon community groups, parish councils and many individuals.

Now we are being told by the University of Bath they have to have land next to it. When did they plan ahead for this then? Come on, this is a blatant threat give us your land or we won't come here.

Well, who really wants them anyway exactly how many children going through Swindon's education system will be fit, able or qualified to attend a university? There is something serious here about disempowerment, a lack of courage from our local politicians, remember those who we elect to represent us.

And worse, a lack of care of Swindon's very special environment.

As a community activist I try to remain positive and promote that positive thought and action in others. But what's the point of getting actively involved if outside bodies can come in and blatantly make threats and demands and get their way against the wishes of the communities here?

Now I have to admit that I have made a fool of myself others in the community have been telling me for 20 years that everything is a foregone conclusion and I find at last they are right and I am wrong. How sad is that?

Marilyn Beale

Penhill