LESLEY Bennett, who doesn't live in Chippenham, attacks the residents of Monkton Park for refusing to put up with a scheme that was blighting the lives of those affected.

One elderly resident has suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of the skatepark noise and has not recovered.

Coun Bennett's claim that the residents were all 'middle class' tries to turn a council pratfall into a class issue. What class are skateboarders, cyclists, anglers, canoeists, yachtsmen, walkers, footballers and golfers, all of whom live in and around Monkton Park?

Coun Bennett is putting a spin on things, as she has been the most vocal supporter of the current site.

I don't know anybody who is against a skatepark for the youngsters of Chippenham, the only issue has been the site.

Coun Bennett and her supporters have cost the people of Chippenham a colossal amount of money.

The irrefutable facts are that North Wiltshire District Council ignored its own in-house experts who advised them to get a noise consultant before building the skatepark. The councillors then ignored the advice to close the park last November.

If they had closed the park at that time they could easily have used one of several sites that have been identified as acceptable to both sides, and had a new skatepark ready for the summer holidays. It's as simple as that.

The blame for this fiasco lies solely at the feet of North Wiltshire District Council and the councillors involved.

Peter Horner

Friends of Monkton Park

Chippenham