I REFER to the article published ‘Councillors vote in allowance hike’ (Swindon Advertiser, January 16) and I am amazed other readers have not commented on this situation, which to say the least, is badly timed. Do our councillors not know we are in an almighty worldwide recession? Especially, as many major companies situated within the borough are either laying employees off for months on end or making them redundant, thus making it particularly tough for the many young families with mortgages etc, after all these are the very people who elected them in the first place. Indeed, there has been an on-going redundancy situation for employees of the borough since the end of 2007. As Coun Pajak rightly stated: "Times are hard and here is an opportunity to lead by example".

I am sure many people like myself do not mind any increase in council tax going towards funding the education/children’s services or adult services etc, but in the circumstances I and I'm sure many others strongly object to the proposed rise in councillor allowances. We would all like to offset the decline in interest rates or flagging business in this way. However, I do think the good people of Swindon should be made aware that any rise in payments to councillors will possibly be funded through our council tax and or at the expense of a much needed service for the less abled and disadvantaged among us.

ROSEMARY TAYLOR Brookfield Highworth Swindon