I AM astonished that Mr Galpin (Letters, December 3) writes in support of Poole Council spending £80,000 of scarce council taxpayers’ resources on a replacement mayoral limousine given that he spends much of the year lobbying councillors on behalf of Upton Country Park.

He clearly doesn’t see that every pound spent upon the mayoral car is a pound that can’t be spent elsewhere.

The council has many competing demands for funds particularly given that we have an ageing population and a baby boom at the same time.

The extended civic party list of eight he refers to is actually required twice a year – once to go 1.2 miles from the Civic Centre to St James’ for the annual church service parade and once to travel 100 yards from the Civic Centre to Poole Park for Remembrance Sunday.

It is quite remarkable that Mr Galpin suggests that the council should have two mayoral cars – one for everyday work and once for the two trips above and to go once a year to Buckingham Palace. This can hardly be an effective use of taxpayers’ funds.

Many of the residents whose events I have attended in the council’s own or loaned electric cars have seen exactly the financial benefits I have described and also understand that the council should be leading on environmentally-friendly issues. The important thing is that the mayor attends an event and what he does there not how he arrives and leaves.

Finally, and for the avoidance of any doubt, I have never, contrary to the suggestions by both Mr Galpin and the deputy mayor of Bournemouth, suggested that the mayor arrive at an event on a bike or by bus.

CLLR PHILIP EADES, Mayor of Poole 2013-14