I WAS born and raised in Swindon and regard this town as my home.

However, next summer myself and my family are upping sticks and moving to Devon.

We live in Rodbourne, over the wall from the Designer Outlet Village, so you can appreciate the enormous amount of traffic and noise we live with.

Every day I see cars going to work with one person in them, people who live in the same street and work in the same factories.

I often walk the dogs with my friend on and around the Front Garden, which is littered with footpaths.

The Front Garden is not an exceptionally pretty place but an open space for everyone to enjoy.

I understand that there is a housing shortage in Swindon, I myself am renting a house and nearly all of my monthly wages go on rent. The council has not come up with accommodation for us in nearly three years, so Swindon does need housing.

Everything I read in your paper points toward people saying how great it would be for Swindon to become a city, where in reality nobody really cares, or a very small percentage, probably the same amount as go and watch Swindon Town football.

While I am on the subject, why don't the people of Swindon concentrate on getting a decent library in a proper building rather than yet another cinema and leisure complex.

I hope people can read this letter and know where I am coming from, and where I am going to (Devon) for none of the above reasons, but for the fact that for the first time in my life I have developed asthma. One of the disadvantages of living in a big town centre.

J COOPER

Rodbourne

Swindon