IT is to be hoped for the South Ribble Council taxpayers' sakes that the formation of their new super-council will be funded from the savings resulting from the local shake-up (Citizen, July 29).

Otherwise, they will no doubt be in for yet another above-average inflation increase next year, to pay our elite councillors the proposed 11 per cent rise. Despite their utterances that they are 'not there to make money', accepting it won't be a problem.

The statement that it is designed to reduce voter apathy, and involve people at grass roots level, must surely make one wonder what planet they are living on - more like more committees, more quangos, more expense.

W Southworth, Highfield Avenue, Farington

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.