I AM astonished that you repeatedly berate Swindon councillors and allow Frank Avenell to vent his spleen against everyone who volunteers to serve the borough as an elected representative.

But I have an idea to save the council money, which Tories keep telling us they want to. Abolish the post of mayor. Wiltshire County Council has a chairman. If your story is correct (EA February 26), then £500,000 could be saved.

Let's see how determined the Tories really are to save money. After all, with 2002/03 being the year of a Liberal Democrat as mayor, and 2003/04 being the year of a Labour mayor, this year of 2004/05 must be the turn of the Conservatives?

A Conservative chairman of the council with no airs or graces and no cost to the tax payer will at least allow dear Frank to sleep sound at night.

DAVE ROBERTS

Haydon Wick