Sir, Last week a survey carried out in a Scottish newspaper showed that the majority of people wanted more say in how their Council Tax is spent. I agree totally with these sentiments.

Here in the Borders since the regional council was formed in 1996 it has become more and more distanced from the very people who elected it. Decisions such as stopping garden waste collections, the giving of £250,000 to the design of a Borders railway station, and £100,000 for the relay baton of the Commonwealth Games have never been discussed with the taxpayer.

I can tell you that the more people I speak to about Scottish Borders Council, the more people I hear say 'bring back Tulley’. Now there’s a thought.

I am, etc.

A Cruickshank Langlee Drive Galashiels