AS a former county archivist I have been reluctant to take an active part in the debate about the siting of the new County Record Office, but I now feel the time has come to state some facts and ask questions.

Firstly, the matter has been clouded by discussion of the relative "heritage" merits of the proposed sites. I believe Trowbridge can hold its own in this field, but the truth is only a small proportion of readers visit the office while on holiday; the majority are unlikely to spend time sightseeing in whatever town the archives are kept.

Of more importance now, and greater in the future, is access by public transport. The Wiltshire Archaeological Society, which has operated in a similar field in Devizes for almost 150 years, has identified the lack of rail facilities there as a serious disadvantage, and is even considering leaving the town. Trowbridge has direct rail access to Salisbury, Swindon, Chippenham and all the west Wiltshire towns. With one exception, all shire county record offices are in county towns. There is a real advantage in this; officers need regular access to minutes, files and other council records, and archivists engaged in records management procedures are frequently in County Hall. To suppose this need can soon be met by the use of IT is optimistic in an office where these methods are only in use, courtesy of the HLF, for one group of records.

A third disadvantage is the cost of the site, and, if Devizes is chosen, of possible decontamination. It is clear the council owns ample land in Trowbridge, available without using either council or other public funds.

Fourthly, nothing has been said in public of the staff. Were they consulted? With what result? Virtually all will presumably have longer journeys. Will they have to be compensated, and if so for how long? Until now, as far as I know, the only advantage claimed for Devizes is its more central position in the county. Does this slight advantage, to road-users only, outweigh the four disadvantages outlined above? I think not, and I believe the decision should even now be reversed in favour of the site where the office has operated, to general satisfaction, for so long.

KH ROGERS,

East Town,

West Ashton,

Trowbridge.