Sir, Fewer tiers of local government is an attractive thought, indeed we should start with the abolition of the South East Region organisation based in Guildford.

However your editorial (April 21) is quite right to suggest that there is not an obvious local solution. Your suggestion of a review is sensible, but it should not exclude the possibility that the current arrangements might yet be found to be the least bad option available.

However, nothing should be done until the city council has been rated as Good' by the Audit Commission for three successive years.

As a candidate in the forthcoming elections I'm happy to pledge that I will not vote for unitary proposals until that test has been passed.

I hope that other candidates will do likewise. That way the newly-elected council can focus its energy on doing a better job.

R V Porter, Conservative candidate, St Margaret's Ward, Oxford City Council