CORRESPONDENT R. D. Calrow patronises Councillor Fitzgerald, and he overstates Councillor Byrne's allowance, which is paid to the leader of the council and not to an individual.

Also what is the relevance of Bury's chief executive being an ex-employee of Oldham MBC, where the chairman of the remuneration panel used to work? The answer is: none.

I didn't know whether to laugh or be angry at his denial of party-political malice. He writes about "this decadent Labour-controlled council". If he had no political motives then which party controls the council is irrelevant.

Mr Calrow is a long-time Tory party supporter, and has attended party conferences. Now tell us again, Mr Calrow, that you are not grinding a political axe.

PAUL FRANCE,

Fairfield, Bury.