Last updated 12:02, Thursday, 27 November 2008

Here we go again. Cash shortage? Let’s put up parking charges (News & Star, November 19) and most likely council tax.

Here’s a better idea.

Let’s reduce the number of city councillors where there are three to a ward to two, making a saving in expenses.

Let’s stop wasting money on consultants, let those who run the council do the job.

Surely they have the skill or why are we paying them?

I wonder what former City Treasurer William Graham would think of the waste of money. He was City Treasurer in the 1950s and 60s. No waste then.

Will the north western bypass ever get built?

It’s 40 years since the last major road was built in the city. Warwick Road to London Road should have gone on to Dalston Road but work was stopped.

All councillors, city and county, plus MP Eric Martlew, should hang their heads in shame.

Twenty years and still waiting.

It’s being built with PFI money, why not road tax money and save us all the expense after it’s built, the cost of delays, the price rising and no doubt more consultants to pay.

No wonder the cupboard is bare.

MR WA NICHOLL
Merith Avenue
Carlisle

• Alistair Darling’s policy may or may not work. Vince Cable suggests another approach.

Meanwhile George Osborne merely criticises everything and offers no alternative proposal. He would be more credible if he said what the Tories would do to tackle this emergency.

WILLIAM W GILL
Grinsdale Avenue
Belle Vue
Carlisle