WE are nearing the time when the council will be contemplating annual budgets, which usually means cuts in services and staff reductions.
So for once, let’s be pragmatic, the new Whitehall buzz word and look at the top (of the council) first.
As we are still in a time of austerity, let’s reduce the number of councillors, currently 98, by 50 per cent minimum, this would save in excess of c.£628,000 per annum, at the same time reduce the number of area boards to say 12 from 18 and save a further £500,000, per annum. Whilst on this subject, councillors’ expenses are shortly due for review, why not lead by example and forego any increase until say, 2020?
A total saving of £1,128,000 per annum over four years equals £4,512,000.
Also, when considering the pay review for staff, start at the lower end with a meaningful increase where warranted, rather than at the top, where there is in any event duplication of responsibilities between councillors and ‘directors’.
Make further real efforts to reduce the cost of agency staff and consultants where huge sums of money are being spent every year.
I hear that a new appointment has been made at senior level of a former consultant, why and at what cost and why aren’t you making internal appointments?
As a member of the House of Lords you are in a position to advise the Government/Minister to cancel the proposal to tunnel the section of the A303 past Stonehenge at a cost of £1.5billion and either form a dual carriageway over that section, at a far reduced cost, or re-route in one direction around the Stonehenge site which would have minimal visual impact and maximum savings. 
Of the £1.5billion saved £90million could pay for 30 miles of A303 dual carriageway from Amesbury to Wincanton, surely a far better investment? The remainder could be utilised on much more needed improvements to the A350 between Warminster and Chippenham, which would be far more beneficial to the local economy. It would also bring much-needed relief from high volumes of traffic and the associated congestion, noise and air pollution to towns such as Westbury and Melksham in the form of by-passes.
It might also benefit Trowbridge by reducing traffic short-cutting via Bradley Road and West Ashton Road thus reducing traffic congestion, noise and air pollution.
Some of the money could also be utilised to provide a much needed by-pass for Bradford on Avon which is also blighted by traffic congestion, noise and air pollution.
PHILIP WITHERS
Clarendon Road
Trowbridge
cc Cllr Jane Scott, leader of 
Wiltshire Council