WHAT a wonderful new amenity the New Swindon Company and the council have created in Wharf Green. Although the cost was high there is not doubt about its value for money when one sees the improvement to the streetscape and the opportunity for high quality community activities to be held there.

What a great shame that there appears to be no management regime in place to protect the area from vandals, litter louts and other undesirables. Last night a large group of youths were seen riding their bikes all over the new benches and into the freshly painted walls. The damage they caused to the benches was considerable and added to that already caused by skateboarders only the week after the area was formally opened. Calls to the police to deal with the vandals fell on deaf ears.

This morning litter is strewn over the area (some only a few inches from the new, and already badly stained, litter bins), a vagrant was sleeping on one of the benches, plants have been pulled out of the landscaped area, the new York stone paving is splashed with stains and Wharf Green was beginning to slip back into its old, sad ways.

Come on Swindon. We all know there is a massive amount of pride in the town. Let's make Wharf Green the first step towards showing our visitors that we can be a quality destination and not the town that time forgot.

Nick Beaumont-Jones Centre Director The Brunel Swindon