Re your front page of April 9, ‘The big dig begins’, concerning Coate Water, may I please make the following points?

Like most Swindonians I adore Coate and go around it at least once a week but we have to acknowledge that the next generation have a right to a home just as much as we that have our little matchboxes do.

So now that building has begun this is our chance to make a real change at Coate Water and I am sure many of you will have your own ideas how this could be done but here are a few of mine.

In order to protect it the Council should move the perimeter of Coate out to Day House Lane thus doubling the size of Coate, then using the 106 money that the new build will generate they could put in a new all weather cycle/footpath all the way around the edge with paths turning back into the lake.

A bridge across to the diving board with this being turned into a viewing platform with magnificent views across the lake.

A new cafe to be built on the high ground by the sand pit with a rooftop seating area so that we could all still see Liddington Hill and the surrounding vista.

Extend the miniature railway line so you can see the lake from part of your ride on this wonderful attraction and place a new walkway and seating into the beautiful arboretum which most visitors do not even know is there.

Place information boards all the way around the lake telling of its origins. All this would cost nothing if the 106 money was used properly and what is already Swindon's greatest asset would be turned into the Crown Jewels of the West Country.

We must not lose this opportunity as it will only come along the once. This could be our London Hyde Park or New York Central Park both of which are surrounded by buildings but give so much pleasure to those that use them.

Roy Cartwright, Covingham, Swindon