I AM really proud of the Swindon people who have spoken up in defence of the Front Garden development issue.

They appeared from all parts of the town such as Penhill and Stratton and they all feel that this area should be kept as green fields and Swindon Borough Council was wrong to choose this area for development.

As Mayor Arthur Archer pointed out that this debate is the most important issue to confront Swindon Borough Council for the next 30 years.

It has now become quite clear that this is far too big an issue to be left with councillors whose interests are tainted with "not in my back yard" politics.

If we as Swindon people are to have any democracy at all then this issue should be put to a referendum of all Swindon's electorate, it should be made up of two straightforward questions.

a) Would you like the Front Garden to be turned into a country park?

b) Would you like the Front Garden to be turned into a housing development?

This course of action would not be near as costly as a High Court legal challenge.

So lets us all think about this in depth and ask the Swindon people just what do they want and put this Front Garden to rest once and for all.

EDDIE COSTELLO

Linley Close

Swindon

At your invitation for an opinion on the councillors' vote on the Front Garden issue, I think it was largely a case of New Swindon versus Old, and "Why should they be considered and exception"? Also a promise of a new Temple of the Most High at Blagrove may have tipped the balance with some voters.

If the programme goes through, as it probably will, perhaps some good may come of it.

For the last two decades the people of Westcott Place, Kingshill and Bath Road have had to endure being the pollution black spot of the town, because of traffic logjams.

Now, perhaps an inner ring road through Rushy Platt and round the south west base of Okus and Westlecott to Day House Lane, for local commuters only, may be considered, to allow quicker traffic flow.

L G LANE

Sandown Avenue

Swindon