I would like to make the following observations and comment about the local election results last week.

Out of an eligible electorate of approximately 126,600, some 39,600 voted (31 per cent).

Votes by party was: Conservative 15,250 (12 per cent of those eligible, 38.5 per cent of those who voted); Labour 13,539 (10.7 per cent of those eligible, 34.2 per cent of those who voted); Lib Dem 9,609 (7.6 per cent of those eligible, 24.3 per cent of those who voted); Green Party 535 (0.4 per cent of those eligible, 1.4 per cent of those who voted).

In the combined wards of Abbey Meads, Freshbrook and Grange Park, Haydon, Moredon, Penhill, Shaw and Nine Elms, where some 700 children are currently attending schools that are outside the borough either at Bradon Forest, Purton or Farmers at Fairford, the Labour party won 3,574 votes or 34 per cent of actual voters or 13.5 per cent of eligible voters.

In Moredon ward, where many of the long-suffering pupils who attend the much maligned Hreod Parkway school live, only 24.72 per cent of voters bothered to vote, and Labour's Montaut won with a sad 11.4 per cent of eligible voters voting for him.

In Penhill ward, where voters have all sorts of effluent running openly past their front doors, and where, at last week's Northern Panel meeting, Councillor David Glaholm could not give a satisfactory answer to removing this problem, he was returned with 687 votes some 15 per cent of total eligible voters in another staggeringly low turnout of 25.73 per cent.

In Western ward, Councillor Kevin Small (former chair of education) was returned with 14 per cent of the eligible voters voting for him in another low turnout of 28.46 per cent.

In Parks ward, 21.78 per cent voted and Labour was returned with 14 per cent of the eligible vote, and in Gorse Hill/Pinehurst, 22.7 per cent voted and Labour was returned with 12 per cent of the eligible vote.

If Sue Bates thinks that this election is a success for Labour, and that they have been given a vote of confidence she is mistaken. It shows quite clearly that Swindon, by not getting out and voting, deserves everything it gets failed Ofsted, no new parks or recreation areas for the ever increasing population, bad roads with roadworks everywhere etc, etc.

Finally, it was interesting to note that ex-councillor Peter Mallinson, despite having the opportunity to stand in his ward of domicile Shaw chose to be bussed to Highworth where he once again failed to get elected. Perhaps he would like to comment on why he did not go head to head in his own ward.

D Smith

The Bramptons

Swindon