Why is it that many people engaged at high level in what are supposed to be our public services, seemingly have an affliction that prevents straightforward thinking?

When things go wrong – ranging from incompetence to wide ranging systematic cover-ups – there is usually a call by “leaders” to “learn the lessons.”

One instance was reported in the newspaper on September 18.

Nobody ever seems to, however.

So we continue to get repeated failure at the highest level.

Whether it be in Rotherham or in the London borough employing the infamous senior officer who “does not do blame”, this often meaningless mantra about lessons to be learned is trotted out.

Then the officials responsible often pop up elsewhere to inflict further damage on the public they are meant to be serving.

In the case of the recently ended fire at the Averies waste plant in Swindon, it would appear there are more obvious questions to be answered.

Rather than focusing on lessons to be learned (no doubt at some indeterminate future time after further waste of public resources on inquiries, legal fees and consultants) is not one of the main issues in this case as follows?

Why were existing tried and tested laws on environmental protection, and possibly health and safety at work, perhaps not followed before the fire even began?

In this case, as it happens, the answers may turn out not to be primarily about failure of public services.

Geraint Day, Southampton Street, Swindon