MY husband and I read your article this week concerning the proposed skateboard area.

I visit the village of Grove near Wantage. They have such a place, which is covered in graffiti, but it is well away from houses and buildings. The youths go there to enjoy themselves, and it apparently causes no problems.

We note that Swindon Borough Council granted planning permission for the Haydon Wick project. With national recognition of incompetence and mis-management one would expect them to make such a blunder. However it is unbelievable that our local parish councillors, knowing the terrible consequences that this is likely to have on our community, have been so selfish and unfeeling in railroading this through.

The leaflets distributed are the thoughts of many. To site such a facility in a residential area is sheer madness.

It is obvious to those of even limited intelligence that it will cause major aggravation. Our parish councillors should visit Grove themselves and see how their skateboard park is sited, then raise money to buy land well away from houses and buildings, so that our youth can enjoy their skateboarding without causing problems for anyone.

Until then, this project must be stopped.

(Mrs) DIANE GILES

Haydon Wick