AS a non-Conservative may I take issue with your correspondent of March 27 and put the record no pun intended straight.

Various members of all parties and none voted for the Record Office to come to Chippenham.

I personally promoted the cause as much as I could on behalf of the district both at North Wiltshire District Council and as a visitor at the county council.

The reason that it won support was not because of political partiality, but because of the force of argument behind our case.

North Wiltshire has the best site. It is a stone's throw from a mainline railway station, there is a bus station in the town and the M4 and A350 are but ten minutes from the site, fulfiling all the criteria for first class transport links and, importantly, giving speedy access to Swindon, a major partner in the venture.

The site is opposite Wiltshire College which will bring enhanced opportunities for life-long learning, also new museum initiatives in the town are already showing tremendous public support and will marry well with the facilities on offer in the Record Office.

Crucially, Chippenham was the cheapest option information to which, for a long time, only county councillors were privy.

In addition, because the site was owned by the district council, the price will be passed from one public pocket to another, a win-win situation for local government and something which is rarely commented upon in cost-benefit analyses.

I hope this may clarify some of the points which have been raised and reassure some of the doubters as to the true reasons behind the decision that has been made.

COUN DOREEN DARBY

Colerne