It would seem that the secret of why many of Wiltshire's roads went untreated last winter is at last out.

At the recent full council meeting one of the ruling group of Conservatives made the bold statement that a Wiltshire County Council gritting lorry was on loan to Swindon Council.

The gritting of Wiltshire's roads has always been an important issue and is always at the top of local residents' and parish council shopping lists of important services that must not be cut.

In my view last year's service just was not good enough. The workmen did the best they could but how could they keep Wiltshire's roads gritted if we had a lorry gritting Swindon's highways?

This lorry should have remained on service in Wiltshire, after all Wiltshire taxpayers would have paid for it in the first place.

This must not happen again.We must try and ensure next year every possible effort is made to ensure Wiltshire roads are gritted and the tools to do so aren't loaned out elsewhere.

Terry Chivers

County councillor

St Margaret's Court

Bradford on Avon