Tories not to blame for tax hike (From Gazette Series)

Tories not to blame for tax hike

SIR - Dr Cordwell's letter in your last edition accusing the Tories of telling "porkies" about the council tax is a bit rich. As we all know, he is a Lib Dem county councillor and hoping to score political points.

I say it's a bit rich, Dr C being one who, along with his Labour cronies at Shire Hall, have increased the county precept by multi-inflation levels year in and year out!

Remember, too, that £7 out of every £10 you pay in council tax goes to the county so it's these big increases that really hurt us, the taxpayer. It wouldn't be so bad if we were given value but look at what they do with our money.

Our roads are a disgrace, they close valued family centres and sixth-form colleges, as well as playing politics with our schools generally. They propose to squander money on weird-looking buildings more suited to Milton Keynes than a Cotswold market town and the latest stroke is to add an extra 500 bodies to the county payroll. Good eh?

So what about the Tory claims about the Stroud District precept? At 2.5 percent increase this is the lowest in Gloucestershire, confirmed in the leaflet from the council we had with our bills. Arguably Tory Tewkesbury is slightly lower but Dr Cordwell suggests it's actually the highest.

No! That doubtful privilege belongs to Gloucester city at a 7.7 percent increase, more than three times the increase in Stroud. And who runs Gloucester? You've guessed it, the Lib/Labs!

I could list the improved services that we are enjoying in Tory Stroud but I am sensitive to your readers' data fatigue.

Faced with this reality, I know who I prefer to believe and who would receive my vote in June.

Brian Lamerton, Crawley Hill, Uley