How sad for those four poor souls at North Wiltshire District Council to be made redundant at this time of the year (Gazette, December 11).

How will they struggle through the coming months with only three quarters of a million to share between them, and I doubt this included the index-linked pension pot they have accumulated. And so the gravy train rumbles on from Brussels to Westminster, Chippenham and even Malmesbury, taking ever more money out of the tax payer's pocket for an ever decreasing standard of service.

My wife and I received £3.60 per week increase in pension this year of which the council took £2.04. Were these people ever needed, or were they just the result of another local government empire builder's ego?

O R PIKE

Bremilham Road

Malmesbury