I NOTE with interest the comments of Frank Avenell (EA, May 27) over the Locarno fire.

After reading his letter I was not sure whether this was just Frank writing to your paper for the sake of it, or whether he was serious about his suggestion that the owners of the Locarno should be paying the bill for putting the fire out.

As Frank claims to know so much about how this local council is run, he will already know that local businesses are contributors to the financing of local government which includes the fire services. This is paid through the Non Domestic Rates (and before anyone rushes to put pen to paper, I know Swindon does not get its fair share of this money).

So as Frank would never make such a simple error, he must be arguing that in future only people who can afford to pay should be able to dial 999 and ask for fire.

Coun KEVIN SMALL

Swindon