I found Alan Peterson’s letter of July 24 deeply hurtful. I am not a politician and put in very many unpaid hours every week for the good of our town and most particularly for its town centre.

Since I stuck my head above the parapet and started campaigning to improve the town I have been quite open in saying that, if development is to come to Chippenham, we should make sure that we use it to improve our town.

In fact, bringing new jobs to the town was actually part of my Chippenham Champion campaign material, so Mr Peterson has got exactly what he voted for.

One of the strong messages from the local community and from the council has been that jobs should be delivered alongside or preferably ahead of the new housing to reduce out-commuting.

It seems to me that the Range’s choice of Chippenham for its southern distribution warehouse is therefore to be applauded for providing the town with up to 1,000 jobs.

The quid pro quo for them is that they insist on a training facility and retail outlet on the same site.

In a perfect world we would stop all further out-of-town retail but in balancing the options it is probably a small price to pay for the additional local employment and resulting prosperity that the distribution warehouse will bring to the town.

I continue to campaign for more jobs in the town centre with suitable premises for businesses to expand into and am pleased to hear reports of increased footfall by as much as 43 per cent in the town centre, which must surely be down to the improved offer from new businesses such as the independent Butler’s Butchers, Rivo’s bar & restaurant, the farmers’ market and many of the other hard working town centre businesses.

My work for Cherish Chippenham, the proposed Town Centre Business Improvement District, and the town council also continues but a letter such as Mr Peterson’s does make me wonder if I am wasting my time.

Melody Thompson, Chippenham BID chairman, Chippenham town councillor, Hardenhuish ward.