Public support?

1:59pm Friday 19th September 2008

By chance I learned a caravan road show was to visit Chippenham for a few hours on September 5.

The purpose was for a publicity team to sell the unitary authority to the public.

I was approached by a pleasant young lady who listened when I pointed out that it would have been appropriate to have polled Wiltshire citizens before reaching a decision to conform to government wish.

I was informed there had been a token poll which balanced in favour, this may have been 50-100 phone calls by the team to selected members of the public.

At this stage I was informed that bodies in support included the police authority and the Wiltshire PCT.

As a member of the Thursday Health Group, Chippenham, I pointed out the past record of the latter was millions of pounds debt and when officers were requested to attend a health and scrutiny meeting to explain, sent an underling with excuse that they had arranged a meeting at Southgate House that same afternoon. Your readers will probably agree that support from unelected bodies is not a recommendation they would approve.

C A Page, Kington Langley