OUR community desperately needs an independent listening ear to monitor to help and to defend families who find themselves in helpless distressing situations of persecution and victimisation.

The Adver's letters page (Dec 2) highlighted the constant double standards and power games that are used in order to make council decisions look acceptable and right. Notably, Mrs Moore's revealing letter dealing with the road humps in Covingham.

The proposed bus lane in Croft Road, to which I have already responded in writing was also covered in this same issue. We are informed that there would be a no holds barred public meeting in the Civic Offices. The reason why I did not attend is my total lack of faith, trust and belief in a so-called open meeting.

Sadly it is my personal belief and deep concern that the council will do exactly as it pleases anyway and Croft Road, which is already a lethal death trap will become a Highway to Hell.

What on earth has happened to our Swindon? Where is the care and concern for the people in our community who are crying out for help and support?

A listening ear would not have given up on the historic Mechanics building. Not have given away the Front Garden. Not gone ahead with inadequate beds and insufficient parking space in the new GW Hospital. Not be proposing a site for our university in the Coate area .. isolated from the hub of life in the town. Not allowed our hopes and dreams for a beautiful proper library to simmer for over 30 years.

All these crucial concerns in our community were subjected to the lip service of no holds barred, open public meetings.

Let us have a wake-up call and appoint the councillors above party who have lifes' experience of true caring and awareness at the helm of the most sensitive departments in which the livelihoods of all our people is paramount. We cannot afford the humiliation of being assessed for a third zero.

M RATCLIFFE

Swindon