BY now your readers will be well aware of the financial disaster being faced by Redditch Council.

But it is not recent news. I have to remind you this enormous budget shortfall was predicted two years ago when the Liberal Democrat group attempted to lessen the blow by pointing out a need to prepare for the forecast deficit and we proposed a modest council tax increase in preparation.

But the ruling Labour group have continued to raid balances and court public support by seemingly ignoring the forecast financial "black hole".

Again last year, the council tax level was fixed at a deceiving one when reserves were again used to keep charges artificially low.

Now they are faced with making quick emergency decisions which will affect services for ever as they ignored the warning signs and appear to have made no attempt to monitor or control spending levels.

Indeed, they undertook the ill-conceived and mis-managed AIR Festival which accounts for half the current shortfall.

All the Labour group actions point to blinkered poor control and a somewhat dishonest ploy in an attempt to attract public support.

I hope your readers do not have similar attitudes and convenient memories.

JOHN STANLEY

Former Borough Councillor

Hillside

Redditch