RE: The ESRC Debate at Steam.

Unemployment is on the rise in the south west.

Looking through the Advertiser's jobs section, it is a shadow of two years ago. Of the 100 main jobs advertised, only 40 are based in Swindon. The town's economy is slightly on the wane and has been since the dot com bust of 2002.

Readers must conclude that this expansion is not about economic growth but about lining the pockets of developers, bowing to the will of the un-elected South West Regional Assembly quango and also about Government imposed targets which do not relate to reality.

There is another Swindon Together On Planning (STOP) family protest march to be held on Saturday, April 9 meeting at the GWR park, Faringdon Road at 11am to march to the Civic Offices. Details can be found at www.Swindon-STOP.org.uk

A HAYWARD

Sparcells

Swindon