I WAS appalled when I read the Daily Echo story that almost £100,000 of taxpayers cash has been spent by Hampshire councils in the past three years on transport for their mayors.

I think it is about time that the the brakes were slammed on the town hall gravy train.

In this modern age the mayoral title is archaic and I don’t see why hard-pressed council taxpayers should have to dig deep into their pockets to chauffeur these civic big wigs.

While many are still enduring the pain of austerity, local government junketing and civic financial excesses have continued.

And while council tax bills have soared, council bosses have enjoyed mega salaries along with heavily subsidised pensions. In Southampton we are seeing very little in return for our council tax bill. Reduced wheelie bin collections, litter-strewn streets, overgrown grass verges. The list goes on and on.

It is about time this government shook up local councils by merging more into one. Put them all under one roof and see how much money can be saved.

The army of pen pushers should be reduced and resources switched to the frontline to restore regular bin collections and improve the environment. If mayors want to travel they should use their own transport instead of expecting the public to subsidise it.

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED