YOUR letters page has produced some relevant topics of discussion. One of which is the proposed merger of the three local authorities: Cardiff, Vale and Bridgend cited by D Williams in Barry and District News edition on Thursday, December 25, 2014. This is a very serious and pertinent topic at the moment. There has rightly been a mixed reception to these proposals.

Due to the proposed austerity measures imposed by central government, for example Cardiff Council is being threatened with £124 million cuts – this will ruin the council. Merging the three local authorities in response to the cuts crisis, I believe, would be a mistake.

Whatever the differences between the authorities one reality remains to be seen. It has been predicted that merging would eventually mean a number of crucial services being farmed out to private companies, a deskilling of the local authority workforce and potentially jobs in the local authorities would end up in mass contact centres with most employees having to accept the minimum wage and worthy terms and conditions being eroded. This is one predication.

It would be hoped that we could encourage our local politicians whether it be the Welsh Assembly or our local councillors to engage in discussion about how we oppose austerity measures.

It is worth noting that while we are expected to endure savage cuts, billionaires in Britain in the last 10 years have doubled in number and continue to increase. The money is there and I would suggest it is the priorities of central government that is the problem.

This is a subject that has concerned many of us and should keep us occupied in debate for the new year of 2015.

Karen Tyre

Falcon Drive

Cardiff