IN Malvern, we have a town council some five years old, which has increased its demands on the taxpayer two and a half times over that period of time.

It is forgotten that only five of the current council were elected, 11 being returned unopposed and the remaining nine were co-opted. Such was the apathy of the electorate.

It was only when it was proposed to increase this year's precept by 61 per cent that the wake-up call came.

The cost to the taxpayer was £2.4 million in the first five years and the proposal is to spend £4 million in the next four years. And for what return?

How does one deal with a partly-elected council? How does one make sure that the taxpayer knows the level of expenditure and approves it? If we wait for the next elections in two years' time, another £2 million will have been spent. There is real concern; how do we make councillors aware of this?

A public meeting in February attended by 600 taxpayers, probably the largest protest meeting ever held in Malvern, requesting councillors to seek a fresh mandate fell, largely, on deaf ears.

Seven brave councillors resigned but the remainder have so far refused.

A full parish meeting attended by an estimated 600 requested a poll of the entire electorate to try and persuade councillors to seek a mandate. This step would not have been necessary if more councillors had taken the wise and courageous step of resigning to seek confirmation of their plans.

While the result is not legally binding on councillors, a positive request from the electors should cause them to think seriously about their position. There appears to be no other way of putting moral, or any other pressure, on them.

If councillors resign, and as a result are re-elected, with their plans therefore being approved by their electorate, so be it. It is time to put democracy to the test.

You will be told that a poll is a waste of money.

The £8,000-£10,000 cost will be well worth it if the electorate confirms our view that the current and projected level of expenditure is unacceptable.

We believe that a reduction in expenditure of around £500,000 per year would be perfectly possible and that the level of service achieved by this would be acceptable to the electorate.

Democracy must be allowed to win.

Keith Phillips, for Malvern Town Action Group