A QUESTIONNAIRE aimed at helping Swindon Council decide its policies on leisure and the arts has been criticised by leading councillors.

Leader of the council, Councillor Mike Bawden, and Wendy Johnson, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, have condemned it as a weak attempt at public consultation on the council's 10-year local cultural strategy.

They are most concerned that people have been given just three weeks to complete and return it, yet the strategy does not need to be written until the end of the year.

Coun Bawden (Con, Old Town and Lawn) was so displeased that he will be taking it up with cultural services manager, Julia Holberry, as a matter of urgency.

He said: "That timescale is not acceptable. We criticise the government for not giving local councils enough time to respond to reports and initiatives, but this makes us no better."

Coun Johnson (Old Town and Lawn) said: "I don't understand what the hurry is. Three weeks really isn't really realistic if you genuinely want comprehensive feedback. It is inadequate consultation."

They both believe the content of the questionnaire also falls short.

It asks 18 questions on a wide range of topics, but fails to mention the lingering proposal to close 10 to 12 small libraries in the town and create a few larger 'centres of excellence'.

The idea was debated as part of the budget-setting debate over the winter and was postponed to enable a fuller review of the library service to take place later this year.

But there is no mention of the plan under a section headed 'Libraries' in the questionnaire, which instead asks people what sort of facilities they would like to see in "any new library development".

Coun Johnson also pointed out that in question five, people are asked how often they visit Swindon's main parks and open spaces, yet one of the choices, Stanton Park, has not been open for years.

She said: "It does seem as if the questions were put together rather hurriedly."

Coun Bawden said: "I'm surprised there is no mention of the centres of excellence idea, or any question about the plans for the central library. I shall be discussing this with Julia Holberry at the earliest opportunity."

Labour leader Sue Bates (Gorse Hill and Pinehurst) said: "Plans are all well and good, but you have to listen and take heed of consultation first.

"If the professionals say centres of excellence are the best way to go, it is up to them to make the arguments for that policy to the public so that the public can express an opinion. I also think the public should not just be encouraged to tick a box but to put their views forward."

The questionnaire has been sent to community groups, schools, societies and clubs and copies are also available at libraries and council buildings.