I REFER to the front page headlines, December 5, Deadly bug at sports centre. This report explained how the virus that causes legionnaires' disease has been found in the water system serving the Link Centre's shower and toilet system.

Legionnaires' disease can be fatal and has recently been responsible for a number of deaths where it has occurred in similar situations.

Council chief executive Simon Birch said: "This is a clear demonstration of how our procedure for checking these systems is working effectively."

It is also a clear demonstration of the maintenance system not working properly since we were told that the water serving the toilets and showers had not been heated to the appropriate temperature.

However, we were not told how long this problem had been occurring, how long it took before it was identified or when the system was last given a thorough cleaning.

Water contaminated with legionnaires' disease presents a risk when it is dispersed into the air in droplet or spray form. These are the precise circumstances that exist in the showers at the Link Centre.

Mr Birch described this hazard as a low level risk. Is it really possible to describe a potentially killer disease in a public building used by thousands of people as a low level risk?

The council cannot afford to be complacent or take any risks with the lives of the public.

There should be a thorough and open investigation to determine why such a serious incident has occurred. This is necessary to give full assurance to the employees and users of Link Centre.

K Kane

Wroughton