I find it incredible how short some people's memories are.

Re: K Kane's comments (Letters, Sat April 23) about duplicity with regard to preventing development at Shaw and Coate. The reason that Shaw was fought over was because it is a community forest of ten years standing, not the "toxic brown field site" that K Kane refers to.

So is destroying a young forest preferable to destroying a fantastic Swindon asset in Coate? I think not. We don't need more empty industrial units, offices or unbuilt houses around Swindon because the economy has changed.

We do need affordable housing and a university though, both of which should be in the town centre.

A Hayward

Sparcells

Swindon