I HOPE you will allow me to use your respected newspaper to say how absolutely disgusted I am with our district council, which has embraced the spending of £600,000 to employ some "experts" to tell us how our town could be improved, and yet see fit to refuse a mere £20,000 grant to ensure the future of a vital service called Trowbridge Lifestyles and Shopmobility.

This provides aids for the disabled in our area, things like electric buggies for hire so they can shop independently like us more fortunate able-bodied people.

I always thought our council was one that embraced an equal opportunities and social inclusion policy, but it seems that in their view some people are more equal than others.

I have worked opposite Trowbridge Lifestyle and Shopmobility for many years and have seen the total professional dedication of its staff to the 500-plus people who are registered with them.

I have also seen the tears and desperation on the faces of these people at the prospect of things folding through lack of funding.

Is this going to be yet another incident that adds to the impression that Trowbridge is becoming more and more a backwater town?

I suspect the decision not to make funds available may have been made before the figures justifying the claim for funding were presented to the council. If so it was not one of the best decisions the council has made.

These decisions have obviously been made by people who have no idea and little interest about the needs of the disabled.

I would also challenge those responsible to experience the social exclusion that disability can cause. May I suggest they wear leg plaster casts for a month and be totally reliant on others for their mobility. They may then appreciate the service and care of Trowbridge Shopmobility.

It is at times like these, when decisions like this are made on my behalf, I am ashamed to live and run my business in the town.

The law says my business premises must be accessible to the disabled by 2004.

It is ridiculous to have these disabled accesses and have no means by which the disabled can use them.

I can only hope the council has the grace to rethink its decision to close Trowbridge Shopmobility.

J DARLING (Rev),

Hilperton Marsh,

Trowbridge.