I RECENTLY visited the Hester's Way neighbourhood in Cheltenham with the Parks and East Walcot Neighbourhood Renewal Company.

Hester's Way is in many ways similar to Parks and East Walcot but with one major difference.

The council takes great care to provide the services required to keep the area free from refuse, rubbish and graffiti.

Refuse is collected every week.

Rubbish is picked up every day.

Recycling bins are emptied every week.

Graffiti is almost non existent, it is removed immediately.

The grass was cut and the hedges trimmed.

The houses and public buildings were all kept in a good state of repair.

We had a tour of the area by coach and at no time did we see the sort of neglect that is all too common in Swindon.

So the question is, "Why is it that our council cannot attain the same standards as Cheltenham?"

A good start would be to empty wheelie bins every week and do the same with the recycling boxes but that would require wheelie bins to be provided in Parks and East Walcot and this has not been done. Also more effort could go into grass cutting around flats etc.

The general level of services in Swindon are totally inadequate, it is not the fault of the government or the last administration, it is because of the way the present administration has set their priorities.

(COUN) P MALLINSON

Shaw Ridge

Swindon