AS a single pensioner living on my own I am both angry and surprised by the article of Michael Litchfield on councillors' allowances.

To increase their allowances by 43 per cent (£227,000) in one year and then to say that they must close two care homes to save roughly the same amount of money is heartless and wrong.

How can we as tax payers be expected to agree with such draconian measures?

How can they expect pensioners to continue paying higher and higher council tax out of their index linked pensions? Three per cent on pensions will not pay for a 43 per cent pay rise for councillors.

Recently a survey was carried out to ask people what they would like their tax to be. Was the councillors' pay rise one of the choices given? I doubt it.

Referring to what councillors receive in Poole is a red herring, the same case could be used for a zero per cent increase as has happened in other areas.

Frank Avenell is right to refer the matter to John Prescott, only government intervention will bring the excesses of our local councillors to an end.

Capping is not what is now required in Swindon. The government should suspend the council to give all of us a chance to put in people who have the aptitude and determination to put things right.

The local elections are coming up in May/June. I hope that the residents of Swindon will kick out any councillor seeking re-election so that they do not benefit from their own greed. Then maybe we'll see some improvements.

AUDREY WESTON MAY

Ridge Green