HAVING investigated the facts concerning the proposed relocation of the Wiltshire and Swindon Records office, I must say I, too, am disappointed the preferred site is not in North Wiltshire.

However, the combined benefits of having such a central site as Devizes resulted in the Royal Photographic Society and the other partners in the scheme deciding that this was their preferred location, as stated by their secretary General Barry Lane in the Gazette.

Despite his letter of protest (June 29) Chippenham was in fact badly let down by Mr Packham, along with his Lib Dem colleagues, in this matter.

Both Coun Allnat (Chippenham Town, District and County) and Coun Bennett (District and County) who are members of North Wiltshire District Council Cabinet/Executive had discussed this relocation on February 8 in secret and the minutes only record that the report be noted, with no authorisation to continue discussion with Wiltshire County Council, the Royal Photographic Society or the possibility of becoming a partner in a joint bid.

Then, at county council meetings held on June 16 and 23, the Lib Dem county councillors from North Wiltshire supported the relocation to Devizes.

Furthermore Mr Packham could have raised the matter at the Wiltshire Local Government Association Meeting on June 19, either on the agenda or with Mrs Soden, the Conservative chairman of the Education Committee, who then chaired the meeting on June 23.

This is nothing at all to do with trust in dealing with the county council as Mr Packham states in his letter, but another failure of the system which allows single party cabinet meetings behind closed doors.

T R STURGIS (Conservative)

Great Somerford, Malmesbury