READING the diverse opinions published in the Evening Post about an elected mayor has convinced me that this ill-conceived proposal is more about the career progression of someone waiting in the wings than the promotion of taxpayers interests.

Ever since local government was reorganised in 1974 it has failed to get its act together. The ineptitude, the bickering amongst councillors and drift towards political meltdown, which characterised Avon, has continued under Bristol City Council.

In a move to restore credibility, the government has proposed inflicting hapless taxpayers with elected mayors. The notion that a dose of autocracy will somehow transform local government could prove a costly exaggeration. The last thing Bristol needs is an additional tier of expensive bureaucracy.

In business terms Bristol City Council's annual budget of around £350million is no big deal. The fact that it takes 70 councillors, a chief executive, principle officers, outside consultants and numerous back-up staff to manage the budget is scandalous. With these excessive overheads it's hardly surprising that front line services frequently face a funding crisis.

Most people agree the council needs a shake-up. Electing a mayor is not necessarily the best way forward. Reform could be achieved by halving the number of councillors and appointing a more dynamic high profile chief executive, someone with a combination of the brilliant organising skills of RHS Chelsea Flower Show's chief executive, Ms Alex Denman, and the straight talking, no-nonsense approach of Channel 4's business guru presenter of Country House Rescue, Ruth Watson. However, if the referendum chooses in favour of an elected mayor, I fear Bristol will end up with a Captain Mainwaring from Dad's Army kind of mayor – plenty of talk, but little action.

Philip Gannaway

Speedwell

ONE of Bristol's best known businessmen Rob Law MBE has backed the calls for a directly elected mayor. Unless that mayor is a metro-mayor for Greater Bristol, he or she will find themselves unable to do much.

The Lib Dem Council has not been a staggering success, but to be fair to them, they have not had much room for manoeuvre. A prime example concerns transport. Councillor Jon Rogers was thwarted in his efforts to introduce the integrated transport authority (ITA), that Greater Bristol is calling out for. A metro-mayor presiding over the whole of Greater Bristol would be able to impose his will on the West of England Partnership. If Bristol wants to know where to go, look to Cardiff with its symphony orchestra, opera and ballet corps.

Robert Craig

All The South Party

THE last thing Bristol needs is another tier of bureaucracy, not forgetting this post will cost the Bristol tax payer more than £100,000.

T Sayer

Bristol

I THINK the proposal for an elected mayor in Bristol is excellent. It seems to me the authority this position gives, has allowed London to achieve great things in its transport and sporting facilities, amongst many other good changes.

Bristol is a wonderful city to live in. However, the transport system has not had any visionary changes in the 30 plus years I have lived in the city. Where is the obvious need for an effective commuter train system from North Somerset and South Glos? I sense that our country cousins have no interest in supporting change for the greater good of the city. The sports facilities in Bristol are aging fast and any attempts by football, rugby and cricket to improve their grounds have been rejected.

All these areas of need, I feel might benefit from an elected mayor's vision.

Iain Hathorn