The previous Tory council in Southampton, led by Councillor Royston Smith, left office with two flagship policies nailed to the mast, the SeaCity Museum and the £10m contract with Balfour Beatty for a new and imaginative road maintenance policy, both costly and both in the view of a large majority of rate payers a total waste of money.

On the first issue I have a suggestion.

Whilst running down the SeaCity project take immediate steps to build a replacement in the obvious site that for some obscure reason has been ignored.

I refer to the ancient cellars that are situated at the bottom of the High Street, on the right below St John’s School, and in the heart of our historic past.

These cellars have been reclaimed and have been left relatively idle for too long.

Indeed I wonder why my generation on the council bothered at all with its reclamation programme for the old city walls, acknowledged by all to be outstanding.

By building over and above the site the cellars could provide an ideal display centre for archaeology and ancient Southampton, whilst above a genuine exhibition centre would provide a showpiece for our marine heritage incomparable through the western world.

I am, of course, keeping my fingers crossed.

Alan Reynard, address supplied.