DEAR EDITOR - Some years ago I had my house extended, and for that moment of madness I now pay additional Council Tax.

Apparently it is not the norm, but at the time a small window opened when it was determined that it was my duty to suffer this pleasure.

The major improvements to my life-style arising from the folly of my actions in choosing to stay in the village are now abundantly clear:

1 Our dustbins are collected on a Tuesday, therefore every time there is a public holiday we have to wait a further week before our refuse is collected. "Not a problem" I hear you cry. You should try it sometime! It is a wonderful experience storing endless black bags in your garage because the bin is full, and if they are left outside dogs and/or foxes will split them open.

2 As featured on national television, we have to date, suffered twenty-one electrical power cuts in less that six months, and have not yet entered the winter period!

3 It is nigh on impossible to exit the village onto the A38 during the rush-hour. This is entirely due to the volume of traffic created by locating the M42 junction at Lickey End. The Ministry of Transport wanted the intersection at Lydiate Ash, but other more highly qualified people knew better!

4 As I write this letter we are now entering the third hour of a Sunday lunch time period minus the pleasure of water owing to a cut in supply.

I question whether the basic utilities are so inept in Calcutta, and am further convinced that they are considerably cheaper!

Jason Harrison

Barley Mow Lane

Catshill

Bromsgrove