IF I were looking for a microcosm of Swindon, I would look no further than the Faringdon Road Park, frequented by so many families with young children.

What a lovely park to have in the centre of town, one to be proud of.

Enough of the niceties!

From being in previous years a park comparable, in my opinion, to the Town Gardens, Old Town, it has now become more like a recycling centre without operatives; litter strewn everywhere, dog poo, racing cyclists, broken glass and no council employees that I can see; and I am there most days, except for one brave local resident voluntary tending the flower beds. The other day I actually saw him picking up a mountain of litter left by overnight revellers. Another of Swindon’s many unsung heroes.

Not that long ago, while walking our little dog around the park, a visitor to the town asked me in earnest the way to the nearest toilets. I said, you won’t find one in this park! All I could do was direct him to a choice of two toilets, both some distance away, and wish him luck and hope he reached his destination safely.

I ask you, is this really the 21st century?

What concerns me most is that a child is going to prick themselves on a contaminated needle.

Stop wasting money on new signs welcoming visitors to Swindon unless you mean it!

WILLIAM ABRAHAM Rodbourne Swindon