I WAS shocked to learn that the South West Regional Development Agency, which is such a waste of taxpayers money already, has now advertised for a new chair on a salary of £134,000 pro rata for thee days work per week. Meeting people as I go around th

I WAS shocked to learn that the South West Regional Development Agency, which is such a waste of taxpayers' money already, has now advertised for a new 'chair' on a salary of £134,000 pro rata for thee days' work per week.

Meeting people as I go around the South West, I am struck by their deep worries about their jobs, their mortgages, their living costs and now even their savings.

In that economic climate, to offer such a public sector salary for so little return, and to do so in the name of 'fostering sustainable economic growth', strikes me as obscene.

The fat cats who have done so much damage to our economy do not exist only in the City of London; sadly, they are in the public sector too.

One of the key functions of the successful job applicant will be to 'provide strategic direction and leadership'.

As the best strategic direction for the SWRDA would be to do precisely nothing, waste no more public money and let the county and district councils get on with the jobs they were elected to do, I am thinking of applying for the post myself in order to 'achieve delivery' (to use the jargon it will be necessary for me to use, if appointed) and shut the whole thing down.

ROGER KNAPMAN UKIP MEP - South Weston Council, Newton Abbot