SURELY if the Tory councillor who abstained had voted against the 15 per cent rise in council tax, the result would have been a tie and no guarantee whatsoever of the status quo. The Tories, by eliminating the factor for arts and libraries, would have only reduced the increase to about 13 per cent. A tie would have meant that the Liberal Mayor, wobbling (chainless) along on his tandem steered by his dithering leader close at his back not knowing whether to lurch to the right or left, would have actually had to make a concrete decision. Some hope. Good luck to Kevin Small. Get that library built.

A C CARTER

Bouverie Avenue, Swindon