I AM writing to vent my annoyance over the recent debacle that Swindon Borough Council were involved with concerning the movement of the waste to the Park and ride in Cricklade Road.

They had no right to hold secret meetings and make the decision that they did without informing the communities involved. After a public meeting at which members of the communities made it plain they would not accept these plans, the council realised that the waste would have to be dealt with properly and with a sterling effort from the Stratton and Penhill councillors and Coun Mark Dempsey (Walcot) a solution has been arrived at.

Our council needs to understand that underhand activities will be opposed rigorously, but openness and honesty will bring people to the fore who will help and work with them to find solutions.

There was one sour note at the meeting as a councillor from Haydon Wick had no interest in solutions and was just trying to drive a wedge between the communities and cause discord.

Thankfully he was subjected to a slow handclap and asked to desist so nothing came of his efforts. The other thing that I am annoyed about was the lack of presence of the MP for North Swindon.

He supported the actions of the council in your paper, but failed to appear at any point in the events that took place.

A person who is not even one of our councillors went in to bat for us but our own MP appears to have little interest.

Tim O’Sullivan, Penhill