I READ with some surprise and disbelief of the county council's decision to build a new record office incorporating the HQ of the Royal Photographic Society in Devizes rather than Chippenham.

Chippenham has a railway station, Devizes has not. Chippenham has speedy access to the M4, Devizes has not.

Chippenham is a stone's throw away from the Fox Talbot Museum, the home of photography, Devizes is not.

All those practical and environmentally sensible factors seem to point to Chippenham as the natural home for this prestigious undertaking.

North Wiltshire District Council was encouraged to feel confident of the outcome, and it is quite unacceptable for the county to present us with a fait accompli in so discourteous a way.

So, when someone makes such a perverse and illogical decision it is reasonable to look around for an explanation.

Could it be that this is just one of those good old political stitch-ups?

Is it possible that the Tory county council decided that the best home for the records office and the RPS would be Tory-led Kennet instead of Liberal-Democrat-led North Wiltshire? I wonder and I'm pretty sure I know the answer.

Whatever the reason behind the decision, the way in which is was managed was ham-fisted at least and at worst underhanded.

Anyone going into discussions with the county council in the future should bear in mind that the current administration is not entirely reliable.

COUN DOREEN DARBY

Colerne