THERE has been a lot of criticism over the years of public art in your letters pages, even from people who I thought knew better. They complain about the Great Boldinis statue that was in the town centre, but which is now brightening up St Mark’s recreation ground, because it was lifelike and the Horse along Mead Way because it is not lifelike. This sculpture, unfortunately, has been allowed to be obscured from the road by an enormous hedge. How much better it would be if this was re-erected in Queens Park at the top of the glade or across the lake so that it could be appreciated by a greater number of people?

The piece of art that has attracted most criticism of late is the water feature in the middle of town that people have likened to a piece of corrugated iron with water running down it. I cannot claim to know what the intention of the artist was, but to me it seems to represent a shower curtain with a voluptuous body pressed against it and shower water running down it. From some angles it is two shower curtains and one can conjure erotic images of two people showering together. At other times as I approach it the music from Psycho runs through my head and I can imagine Anthony Perkins stabbing at it!

I hate shopping in the town centre as I find it hard to tolerate being jostled, so it is one of the few things I enjoy about the centre of Swindon. Although public art of course must be paid for, without it life would be like living in some dreary utilitarian Soviet new town of the 50s.

STEVE THOMPSON Norman Road Swindon