No, no, no! There is no way that the council can even begin to consider a 43 per cent allowance increase. How the five-strong 'independent' remuneration panel can come up with such a daft figure is beyond comprehension they must be on a different planet.

No, no, no! A 15 per cent council tax rise is well out of order, especially if it includes spending £2.7 million on an art museum. This disgraceful form of taxation is now totally out of control and the time has come for the public to react with the utmost vigour and either refuse to pay it altogether or pay only a nominal 2.5 per cent increase.

It is up to us to decide whether the council is allowed to continue to bully us in such a manner.

Finally, why on earth have we got 59 councillors? May I suggest that that is at least 30 too many.

It is getting to be some substantial trough for them to get their trotters in, which is costing us more than we can afford.

Richard Osborne

Manor Crescent

Swindon