I ATTENDED recently a meeting at the Department of Transport in London with the Minister Derek Twigg, MP Dr Andrew Murrison, together with representatives from the west Wiltshire towns, who will all be seriously disadvantaged if proposed plans to cut rail services, including the Warminster-Waterloo line are carried through.

Encouraging alternative modes of transport, especially in the direction of rail travel and keeping cars off the road, has long been a feature of government thinking. How can cutting rail services be squared with this policy?

It can only be hoped that the train operating companies involved can reach an agreement with the Department of Transport and the government to stop this act of folly and discrimination against the more rural areas. Other parts of the country will be affected, not just Wiltshire.

Two or three years ago the reason given for curtailing services was a shortage of rolling stock. This time it is reining in public spending. If an agreement cannot be reached, does not Alastair Darling run the risk of being compared with Dr Beeching in his vandalising of the railways?

Pressure on the government has to be maintained. We won last time and we can win again.

C March, Warminster