FOUR speakers from the campaign to keep the record office in Trowbridge were allowed to present their cases in public participation at the cabinet meeting of the county council.

Having made their presentations, the chairman commented that they had all missed a vital point, that it was the Swindon and Wiltshire Record Office and that we must allow the school children of Swindon as much access to the record office as those in Wiltshire!

Not one member of the committee, whether from North, West or South Wiltshire, had the courage to point out that, for the bid, Wiltshire's input is £5.7m, with Swindon only paying £1.45m.

So, from the Wiltshire taxpayers' point of view, who should have the majority say on its location? Also, what about the school children of Salisbury? Don't they get a say either? This whole saga has been mishandled from the beginning.

The WCC realised they had to 'financially disadvantage' the Trowbridge site from the beginning so it would appear obvious which way councillors should vote to choose another location.

This 'financial disadvantage' was made blatantly clear by the Scrutiny Task Group investigation.

With the whole record office project now burdened with spiralling costs, the administration's schemes look set to cost Wiltshire council tax payers alone some £5.7m. Had they submitted plans for a new site in Trowbridge originally, the new office would now be under construction there at a fraction of the cost.

WCC could redeem themselves by contacting the HLF, explaining how the county town has been unfairly treated.

The news story could then read: "HLF helps the county town of Wiltshire to lay the foundation stone of the first build towards the Vision of Trowbridge!

"The record office is now being sited on a new plot of land right in the heart of the county town "

This would certainly shut up the cynics who now view the county council with deep suspicion.

ANN MASON,

On behalf of the Trowbridge and District Chamber of Commerce,

Castle Street,

Trowbridge