No longer acceptable

Each year we are faced with a hike in our council tax well above the rate of inflation, with the council's lamentable excuse that it is necessary in order to provide services at the present level.

Given their ongoing failure to do so begs the question, "Where is the money going?"

The fact is quite obvious that this council is completely unable to grasp it is grossly inefficient and totally lacking any semblance of an agenda of spending within financial limits.

There is no doubt the buck should stop at the top and heads should roll.

The suggestion senior executives at the town hall should resign (Letters, January 18) is an excellent one but is not likely to happen.

We can be assured despite any protestations, many of the proposed cuts will be implemented in order to protect their lucrative, highly paid positions at all costs.

In the event, however, nothing is likely to change.

The town will continue to depreciate until the only thing visitors to the town are likely to look for is the road back out.

Council tax increases will continue to be regulated by omnipotent quangos inspired in self-important political dogma.

The possibility we might one day see an increase of foot patrol officers on the streets is remote.

The comforts of horsepower are never likely to be replaced by shanks' pony.

Finally, in consideration of the council's ongoing failure to balance the books (in the red), leading to the provision of services being abandoned (ditched), we do seem to have a most appropriate name for our town.

Obviously the Cistercian monks had an ability to see into the future.

DJ SHARPE

Marlpool Drive

Redditch