FORWARD Swindon demonstrate how out of touch they are in deciding to not screen football’s premier tournament, the World Cup on the Wharf Green big screen. Not only have they adopted a ‘Backward’ Swindon approach in their decision, they have also demonstrated a prissy attitude to the thousands of football supporters in the town (and I am not one of them).

May I remind Forward Swindon of the statement made at the launch of the big screen and which is on the BBC website - speaking of the public benefits of the big screen and its many uses, one of the foremost benefits was that Swindon residents would get a grandstand view for BBC sport and national events with the atmosphere of a live crowd in a public arena that holds 2,000 people.

Forward Swindon claim the reason they have decided not to show the football is because of safety reasons - I wonder if they considered just how contradictory that sounds when their spokesman said: “The event would not be attractive or welcoming and attendance would be low.” In the myopic world of Forward Swindon the World Cup is perceived as neither attractive nor welcoming. I suggest the spokesman needs to get out a bit more and talk to real people.

As for public safety concerns, surely this is the province of the local council and the police. The council was quite happy to endorse the big screen being used for the Last Night of the Proms and the police managed the crowds who turned up for the traditional Christmas lights switch on - are we really saying that a square which holds 2,000 people cannot be safely organised and managed by the combined might of Swindon council and the Wiltshire Constabulary?

This weekend Swindon Town FC goes to Wembley and thousands of supporters will converge on the town’s sports bars to watch the match. Why deny the fans the opportunity to view the World Cup matches on what is a publicly funded screen in a public arena which was specifically designed for this type of event?

Forward Swindon need to think again.

DES MORGAN Caraway Drive Swindon