WHEN reading last week's Kidderminster Times, I was surprised to see the advertisement for five new and relatively highly paid staff jobs for Wyre Forest District Council.

These jobs will add £139,701 to the council's salary bill at a time when council tax payers are facing an increase in their bills of over three times the rate of inflation.

There does not seem to be any recognition of the difficulties that some face in meeting the tax levied by the council.

These positions may be desirable, but I doubt if they could be classed as essential at a time when tax payers are finding it more and more difficult to meet these demands.

On another page in the paper, we read of the difficulties facing Brintons, where they are likely to have to lay off staff in the face of difficult world wide trading conditions.

Unfortunately, the council never seems to be constrained by market conditions - they just keep going back to the council tax payer to ask for more.

So, I am writing to ask if the chief executive would review the decision to make these appointments, and ask if they really are necessary.

DAVID MILLS

Green Acres

Chaddesley Corbett