WHAT a nerve Julian Kashdan-Brown has asking Wootton Bassett Town Council to pay for four new litter bins at £650 each and four tree grilles at £700 to £800 each.

I find it scandalous that North Wiltshire District Council members' allowances paid in 2002-03 totalled £202,562 and Wiltshire County Council paid £418,372.

Members can also make claims if they have caring responsibilities and for mileage travelled.

Oh that non-councillor carers in north Wiltshire were afforded the same consideration.

The cost of the four bins and grilles totals £6,800, a mere bagatelle. That, Mr Kashdan-Brown, leaves North Wiltshire District Council with £195,762 hardly a dent in the said allowances

I suggest you exert your urban design on looking at members' allowances.

Wiltshire county councillors have just awarded themselves a 12.5 per cent increase in their basic allowance.

What an incompetent set of councils we are saddled with there is never any money to repair roads, clear footpaths, or provide money for the toilets in Station Road in Wootton Bassett that have been closed for almost two years.

Wootton Bassett is holding its High Street festival on August 3 and still there is no sign of the toilets being opened in time to accommodate the extra visitors we shall have.

How many toilets are closed or are closing in Chippenham?

The Area Two meeting at which the toilets are due to be discussed is not until October and I ask the chairman of Area Two why the matter was not on the agenda of meetings on April 7 and June 4?

Once again Wootton Bassett is ignored, who are you representing? Certainly not the people of the town.

The taxpayers of this town are paying more and more and getting less and less, no money for this, no money for that, yet rulers' allowances are astronomic.

Perhaps some of their money could provide us with some of the services.

Reduce your allowances and perhaps we'll see how many members are keen to serve the community then.

What have you got against Wootton Bassett? Most of our money is freely spent in other towns. Is it perhaps political?

As Coun Chris Wannell said: "They have done the dirty on us for years and they should pay."

WENDY ROBERTS

Wootton Bassett