Having just received through my letterbox a newsletter on behalf of Coun Glenn Smith (Covingham and Nythe, Con), I was incensed at his comments "putting the residents first" in his paragraph about getting the Covingham humps removed.

Let me remind Coun Smith that prior to the insertion of these humps road accidents along Covingham Drive and Merlin Way were four-fold.

They are a cheap way of making people drive slower and giving everybody, including pedestrians, a better chance on the now very busy roads around Covingham.

Ever tried to cross Merlin Way during the rush hours?

Ever tried to turn right into Merlin Way before the mini-roundabout was put there?

There used to be, on average, at least six non-reported accidents per week at that T-junction before the roundabout.

Now, it's wonderful, you don't have to take your life in your hands turning into Kingfisher Drive when traffic from Wanborough used to touch 60/70 mph along Merlin Way.

I personally drive a cheap, small car and have no trouble whatsoever if I drive at the required speed over the humps.

I also suffer from a back problem and still don't have a problem in my cheap little car.

So what's all the fuss about Coun Smith? I'll take you for a drive if you like, and we'll see what the problems are.

Why are you calling meetings of only some of the residents?

I heard third hand about the meeting on September 4 and quite honestly I found it a meeting to whip up feeling against the humps.

It was actually held at a time when most working people did not have a chance of getting there.

I would also take issue with the way that the so-called petition was raised.

I saw it in the chemist at Covingham shops and it blamed all kinds of ills on the humps.

So, what do we have apart from humps that's cheap and effective? We need to slow the traffic down around Covingham and keep it slowed down.

Also, this raises the question of other areas. Is Coun Smith going to get rid of all the humps in the Swindon area?

I will not take too kindly if there are no humps on Covingham and I have to drive along Marlowe Avenue where humps still exist.

If you take the ones up on Covingham, you'll have to finish the job and take all the humps up and we can all do what speeds we like then.

If you want to get something useful done around Covingham, please get in touch with me, and I'll give you a list.

(Mrs) S E Moore

Covingham