BUREAUCRATIC red tape seems to be one of the reasons why disabled pensioner Tony Vaughan is being denied his independence.

Because his wife Mary has a part-time job as a cleaner he has been told by social services he must find the £4,000 required for adaptations that the council agrees he needs to make their home at Stratton wheelchair friendly.

With a weekly pension of £166 and no savings, it is hardly surprising he cannot afford it.

This ludicrous situation is not helped, however, by the fact that the social services department is itself seriously strapped for cash.

It will not comfort Tony to know that the department is now trying to work out an answer using Government guidelines.

We have been let down by this Government, which has left the town among the 20 lowest funded authorities in the country.

Last week we were patronised by Education Secretary Charles Clarke, who implied Swindon is seeking special treatment.

What we want is equal treatment field. Peterborough and Milton Keynes, similar towns to Swindon, were both allocated rises considerably higher than ours.

The unfair so-called Formula Grant should be revised. And the time to do it is now.