I AM writing in response to the article in the Evening Advertiser dated December 1, 2000, regarding the objections raised to Kevin and Nicky Fitzgerald's application for an extension to their licence at The Victoria.

I seem to remember reading articles during the past months of the town's attempt to achieve city status, I believe we received some very poor press which I am sure disappointed many of the town's residents. However, was this really such a surprise?

Swindon does have the potential to offer an exciting and varied range of social activities, which can help lift the "average'' image we seem to have earned ourselves.

This can never be achieved if we do not allow progress in the town. The Victoria has been more than active in improving the diversity of what we have to offer, giving local artists and musicians the opportunity to perform as well as providing national and international acts.

The objections that have been raised to their application have no evidence to substantiate them. I have been active in promoting live bands and other musical events at the Victoria on Saturday evenings since Kevin and Nicky became landlords and can honestly say that I have never seen any disturbance inside or outside the premises.

There are always experienced door staff at the pub and the Victoria will agree that the atmosphere is nothing but friendly.

Surely the people of Swindon and the magistrates who will be deciding the future of live music in our town are not so naive as to see the real reason for the objections, money. The night club owners who are objecting to the licence extension are only concerned with the impact they may feel on their wallets and not the remote possibility of disturbance.

Why cannot the people of Swindon who enjoy live music be allowed to enjoy it for a little longer at the weekends and not be forced into paying night club owners for a service they do not want but have no choice in taking? Is a little competition such a bad thing?

We can make Swindon a more exciting and attractive place for people to be. Taking the step of improving the live music on offer can only help improve what we have to offer.

STUART BROWNING

(For and on behalf of Destination Anywhere Promotions)

Markenfield, Toothill, Swindon