SWINDON Council must find a way around the planning law which threatens to allow three takeaway food establishments and a video store to operate on the doorstep of people living in a confined area at Abbey Meads.

It is not reasonable that these householders should have to put up with cooking odours, noise, bright lights and the other inconveniences which are likely to emanate from the businesses in question.

Neither should they have to endure the inevitable increase in traffic.

It is almost mind-boggling that such over-intense development of a small site is possible because outline planning permission was granted as long as 11 years ago.

Abbey Meads councillor Justin Tomlinson (Con) is right to describe this 11-year-old decision as a disgrace.

The council that was in power and therefore had planning responsibilities then allowed it to happen. The responsibility of the present council and its officers is to look for a solution that will be acceptable to the residents.

What is the solution? It shouldn't be beyond the wit of those who occupy desks at the Civic Offices to find one.