MORE than three years ago my letter about Chippenham's old Gaumont Cinema (Goldiggers) was printed in your paper.

A little later, the people of Chippenham were invited to fill in a questionnaire on the future of the Gaumont and the majority who managed to find a form, wanted the building to be retained. Democracy at its best, you might think.

The fiasco that ensued beggars belief, and I wonder how much time and council tax money was wasted in the process. In the meantime did North Wiltshire District Council hope the building would fall down?

Why have they chosen a developer who wishes to demolish the Gaumont, which is, I believe, in a conservation area, to build a few shops, food outlets and flats, when they have already invited Barratt to build homes on the other side of the street?

Do we need any more food outlets in Chippenham? Do we need any more traffic? Are there enough school places for the children that will move into this new development?

There are often complaints about the behaviour of the younger people in Chippenham, the litter they drop and the way they seem to gather around the town bridge in the evenings and weekends.

Where else can they go? There is very little for young people in Chippenham, not everyone enjoys or can afford to go to nightclubs.

What a difference this building could have made for them.

Three years ago one North Wiltshire district councillor was reported to have scoffed that Chippenham was a joke.

I agree with him and it will always be a joke until the North Wiltshire District Council sorts itself out.

I heartily agree with A. Stickland (letters, December 11) "This is the largest project Chippenham has had for many years. Don't mess it up."

A Bevan

Monkton Park

Chippenham