COUNCILLOR Rob Curtis has a short memory.

What political party got us in the mess we are in – Labour.

What party is getting us out of the mess – Alun Cairns party. Very slowly I know, but we are getting there.

We have a Labour controlled council. We have a Labour controlled Welsh Assembly and a so called Barry Borough Council, which is toothless, costing everyone of us a fortune in salaries and expenses. And don’t forget most of them are also receiving salaries from outside employment. Do we need so many councillors? Once councillor a ward is enough. Do we need so many MEPs and MPs.

I am old enough to remember when Barry was a town to be proud of, the old Barry Borough Council was run by mainly Barry businessmen who took no salaries they did it for the pride. The South Glamorgan Council oversaw the running from Cardiff. What did Barry have then, thriving docks and businesses on the docks, the finest open air swimming pool in Wales, the finest seaside resort in Wales, the finest amusement park in Wales, a boating lake to be proud of, a bus service to be envied (Western Welsh), five cinemas, youth clubs and hundreds of shops all doing business. What have we go now – to many takeaways, charity shops, card shops and money lending shops and many more boarded up because of the excessively high rates.

The old Barry council was run from the Town Hall on King Square. What have we got now the Civic Offices, with staff, I would hazard a guess, at 500 per cent more by the look of the car parks behind. And what about the money being spent on this building with refurbishments and new chairs.

Everyone should give Alun Cairns a rest and have a go at Cllr Curtis' crowd.

Mr B Kirke

Crossways Street

Barry