I AM staggered at the letter from Derrick Bye, the former Labour councillor, lecturing me on how to represent local residents.

Firstly, his claim that I am inexperienced is nonsense. I have previously served as a councillor in Wyre Forest, a parish councillor for Blunsdon and I am proudly an Abbey Meads ward councillor, where I live.

Secondly, I will always put the residents I represent first, no excuses. I work tirelessly for my local area and that is exactly why, despite our respective experiences, I am a councillor, and that it is he that is in the political wilderness as he highlighted.

VERA TOMLINSON Ironstone Road Swindon