ON April 12 the Journal reported the sudden decision by Wiltshire County Council to abandon its existing scheme for delivery of hot meals to elderly and vulnerable people in the district.

It is unclear what consultation, if any, was undertaken by the council with the users before deciding on this radical shift in policy.

Many of these users have come to rely on this service and may not have appropriate storage or cooking facilities to handle preparation from frozen supplies - as seems to be the council's proposed alternative.

Salisbury Age Concern's apparent belief that in future everyone who needs a hot meal will receive one is not reassuring when at the same time it declares that the changes are designed to give people more choice.

This is clearly not the case when they are, in fact, being given less choice.

The changes are surely intended first and foremost to save money for the council.

Elsewhere in the same issue of the Journal the leader of the county council, Jane Scott, is reported as saying that one of the key issues facing the council is to ensure that local communities are strong and vibrant and claiming that local people are best placed to tell her how to achieve this.

The apparent contradiction between the council's declared intentions and its actions with regard to the delivery of hot meals to the elderly and vulnerable is difficult to understand.

Is it too late for Mrs Scott to have a real look at the need for continuation of this service?

ALAN STRONG, Hanging Langford