ALTHOUGH I have yet to be convinced that the unitary council for Wiltshire will bring material cost savings, I am more concerned with the disappearance of local democracy.

The previous council in Salisbury ignored the views of their people, and was more concerned with empire building than good housekeeping. The electorate made their views known by duly throwing them out at the subsequent election in favour of councillors more in tune with local needs.

Now, if an issue arises that is detrimental to Salisbury (and only affects Salisbury), and is voted down by all the representatives from south Wiltshire, it can still be brought into effect on the votes of other parts of the county.

Voting out local councillors will no longer be an option as they do not have the numerical strength to make their views count.

Wiltshire will then be in line with Westminster, where issues that affect only one part can be brought in with the votes of other areas that aren't even affected by the issue.

All the positive steps taken by the current council to provide services in line with local demand can be changed immediately by the new Wiltshire Council.

ROGER WITHERS, Salisbury