IN reply to W L Bunce (Letters Jan 19), it is not in the last few months that the regional bureaucracy has been built up, but over years.

All manner of quangos exist, controlling aspects of the public arena, with no accountability to local people.

The planning system can produce results abhorrent to local people, and yet allow MPs and councillors alike to wash their hands of unpopular decisions.

M Wheaver

Swindon