AFTER reading the Forest of Dean Guide to Council Tax 2016-17 under ‘spending plans’, I am alarmed that the Lydney precept for 2016-17 has reached just under half a million pounds.

How does the Lydney Town Council justify the administration cost of £385,696, which is the precepts of both Cinderford and Newent combined? It’s even more than the total of the Coleford precept.

How can the Lydney Council and administration department account for and justify this excessive cost for a population of circa 11,000 inhabitants?

– Roderick Dawson-Marsh, Lydney.