A RECENT letter suggests abolishing the valuable post of mayor to save a few pounds each year.

I believe anyone reading your excellent paper, regularly will readily appreciate the huge affection the whole of our town has for our mayor.

The very hard work of each mayor provides a non-political focus for many groups which would be unrecognised if we had fallen into the trap of having a directly elected political mayor as suggested a few years ago.

If real savings are needed without any cost to the people of Swindon borough it must be obvious how to make them.

Each party has a team of political advisers and their staffs, whose duty is to represent the central hierarchy of their party.

Total abolition of political advisers to our council must save a hundred times the cost of the mayoral office and would be a gain to us in many less obvious ways. They stir up trouble and interfere in the working of what should be helpful and friendly relationships.

KEITH RATCLIFFE

Priory Green

Highworth