I AM surprised that anyone resident in Trafford would consider the increase in salary [allowance] to the leader of the council justifiable.

Usually, an increase in salary is for a job well done.

I feel that neither the present leader, nor any of his predecessors, could say that.

Look at their record.

In 1983, when my wife and I moved from Ashton-on-Mersey to Altrincham, it was a thriving Market Town, with a variety of shops and good schools and transport. If we look at the centre of Altrincham now, we have large numbers of empty shops, pound shops and bargain shops.

This has be caused by Trafford Council allowing the building of The Trafford Centre, to the detriment of the centres of Sale, Flixton, Urmston, Stretford and Altrincham.

We have a transport Interchange which was originally supposed to take 13 months from July last year, to construct.

Not surprising, as there only ever seems to be three men working on it, and they seem to work a five day week.

Contrast this with the work outside the Central Library in Manchester, where men were working on Saturdays and Sundays.

I suppose if we are lucky it may be complete by Christmas. This has undoubtedly affected what few shops that are left in Altrincham.

The pavements, once away from the centre, are a disgrace.

Most of the damage has been caused by allowing cars to drive onto the pavement to park, thinking that by so doing, they are avoiding a double yellow line.

There are vary few dropped kerbs at the Hale end of Altrincham, causing difficulty for the disabled. Similarly many roads have large potholes and clearing of drains seems to be non-existent.

Refuse collection, and recycling collection has been privatised, resulting in residents having to sort out what to put in various bins, rather than the paid company doing this work.

If this record justifies a £10,000 increase, then I am sure many residents would consider themselves in the wrong job.

If that is the price of failure, then I suppose we could consider ourselves fortunate that he has not made a success of the job!

David Olliver, address supplied