THE cream of Swindon’s business world are rallying around the man behind Swindon’s wi-fi project.

On Tuesday, South Swindon MP Anne Snelgrove demanded an inquiry into what she labelled the ‘secretive’ deal which saw Swindon Borough Council agree a £450,000 loan to Digital City.

But some of Swindon’s most successful businessmen and women have come out in support of what Rikki Hunt, CEO of Digital City, has done.

Nicky Alberry, Chair of GWE Business West Ltd, said: “I have known Rikki for many years. He is an important local businessman at the forefront of driving Swindon’s strategy for economic growth through the work of the Swindon Strategic Economic Partnership (SSEP).

“He commits a great deal of his own time to bringing together the private and public sectors.”

Adventurer and businessman David Hempleman-Adams has also come to the defence of Mr Hunt, with whom he has completed several expeditions.

He said: “I have found over the years, when you are on an expedition, it’s dark, cold -40 degrees and dangerous, it's a great test of true character.

“Rikki Hunt has always shown the utmost integrity, team work and selflessness. As a son of Swindon, and my home town, I was delighted to read that Swindon was pioneering the internet programme.

“It was one of the few concepts that crossed all boundaries - political, race, religion, sex, age and wealth.”

James Lockhart, of commercial property advisors Whitmarsh Lockhart, said: “He is very straightforward to deal with and is a great business man.

“He has been a great help to the Swindon Strategic Economic Partnership and because of him we are the envy of others in the country.”

At a council meeting earlier this month, members of the cabinet agreed to sign off the rest of the £450,000 loan to Digital City with a special clause that £50,000 should be held back until Digital City hits the original private packages target the council originally gave it.