IN MY letter of two weeks ago on the proposal to move the County Record Office from Trowbridge to Devizes, I identified four disadvantages, which I will summarise again:

1. Poorer public transport

2. Administrative inconvenience

3. Cost of site

4. Disruption of staff and consequent costs

I was glad last week to get the influential support of Dr Murrison and Ann Mason, but disappointed that there was no official reaction, either to say that my disadvantages are not disadvantages or to say that there are advantages in moving to Devizes which I had failed to state.

In the face of this silence, I would like to ask these specific questions: On what grounds was it decided to apply to the HLF for funds to move the Record Office from Trowbridge to Devizes? What advantages would such a move offer?

To take the debate further, I should point out to your readers that numbers two and four of my disadvantages apply to any place other than Trowbridge, and as to number three, no place can provide a site at less cost! As to public transport, Chippenham and Swindon have excellent east-west rail services, but to move to either would disadvantage the southern half of the county.

Cllr Chalke himself said recently that people in the south of the county would find Chippenham too far away. Direct rail access to either place would involve a longer journey, passing through Trowbridge the same problem that in 1889 led to the council settling at Trowbridge, and surely deserving the same solution.

KH ROGERS,

East Town,West Ashton.