I WAS disappointed but not surprised to see Jeff McBride’s letter claiming to laugh out loud at the thought of disbanding the town council.

Unfortunately the chairman of the town council is out of touch with the reality of the financial difficulties that both the borough and the county councils find themselves in.

Andover Town Council is costing approximately £130,000 a year to run and over the life of this parliament in the region of £650,000 to £700,000.

They have responsibility for administering the allotments and switching on the Christmas lights. Beyond that they have no purpose.

Jeff McBride and his town council are begging for more responsibility but why would you take those responsibilities from the borough council or the county council?

Quite simply the money can be far better spent – schools, mental health and the elderly are all struggling with tight budgets.

How many readers noticed at the end of the article on the robbery at the jewellers in Andover last week that witnesses should contact Basingstoke CID?

Andover needs its own police station and officers before a town council.

Tony Hooke, Suffolk Road, Andover