AT last Swindon Borough Council is willing to listen to the views of the people in Swindon about Steam.

If it had done this in the first place it would not have the problems it faces today and would not have wasted our money.

So what is wrong with Steam, because people who have been there think the museum is very good.

The reasons are as follows:

l The name is wrong as it could be a Turkish bath. It should be called Great Western Railway Museum.

l The first brochure just said Kemble Drive with no map. The second brochure included a map but it was so small and only covered a small area. The current brochure does include a map but does not show how to get there from outside Swindon.

l There was no marketing budget so it was not promoted widely outside Swindon. It is reported that when people have phoned the council asking for the Swindon Railway Museum they have been told that it does not exist.

Many people in Swindon do not know where Steam is, so how does the council expect people from outside Swindon to find it?

It is now signposted at the outlet village but not at the entrances.

The solution is a wide ranging promotion and marketing strategy based on the expert knowledge of the staff in the Information Centre.

Was the proposal to close this centre a joke, as these people are making money for Swindon while the councillors are wasting it?

We must have a detailed map of Swindon and how to get to Steam by car, bus and train.

What the councillors forget as most of them have lived here for a long while is that the visitor finds the road network in Swindon very complex.

As I have no faith in the council to carry out these plans I suggest that the staff of the Information Centre be put in charge as I am very impressed with their expertise and this is one of the few departments in Swindon that is efficient.

BRIAN BURROWS

Fairlawn, Liden

Swindon