I wish the gentleman from Covingham (Letters, September 28) had joined us on the Front Garden picnic last month.

Then he could have seen for himself what this countryside means to a vast proportion of the town's population who walk and run here every day of the year.

Had he come he would have seen beautiful green fields, trees and wild flowers, birds singing, wild deer, badgers, rabbits, cows and horses. These have rights too!

One cannot imagine what sort of 'shop window' another housing estate would represent. The only goals that a new stadium will bring would be for Mr Terry Brady plc.

Let us now be deadly serious about what the Front Garden means to Swindon it is the jewel in our crown, our shop window. To build here would be a disaster, and a crime to our children and future generations on which a price cannot be put.

I ask the town planners and politicians not to take this away and replace it with yet more congestion.

I ask everyone to come and see and to use it!

EDDIE COSTELLO

Linley Close

Old Town

Swindon