Having recently surveyed the beautiful countryside that is still earmarked for houses in the Northern Development area of Swindon, I can't help laughing at councillors' comments that they would plan differently now.

It was predicted that this vast expanse of land would be needed to accommodate job seekers moving to Swindon by the year 2001. However only about a third of the houses have been built so far.

Now another area of countryside is earmarked for development to meet so-called housing demands from people who don't want to live on a giant housing estate with Wal-Mart at its centre.

If the Front Garden "vision" doesn't work then we will have two half-finished building sites plus brownfield land that developers will seek to avoid to use.

No doubt the borough council will suggest a new direction of growth in their desperate attempt to get people to move to the town.

Those who were born here or were drawn because of the charm of the "small town" atmosphere should be in mourning at the latest plans for more expansion.

The newcomers will, no doubt, move on at the first opportunity to do so.

The Front Garden Action Group deserve a standing ovation for their efforts to protect the countryside that they know, love and cherish. Thank you for speaking up on behalf of the owls, deer, birds, butterflies, badgers, hares, bats and all other creatures that depend on the Front Garden for their survival but who have no voice.

Thank you too to the Liberal Democrats who have been consistent in their opposition and thanks to Julia Drown MP who put forward such a convincing argument that the Front Garden was not needed for development in the plan period to 2011.

Jean Saunders

Co-ordinator

Swindon Friends of the Earth