MAY I through your columns put out a plea to our well respected Forest of Dean District Councillor Mr Bill Hobman regarding council tax over the next two years. The people of the Forest of Dean cannot afford any more increases in council tax.
Just to refresh your memory we live in one of the highest unemployment areas in the country, and, not to put a point on it, the pot is drying up. We can't afford to pay out any more money.
What are the authorities going to do when we can't pay? Bang us all up in jail? Well, for a start, there would be no council tax paid in at all. The average wage in this part of the country for those who have the good fortune to have a job will tell you, it is not in line with inflation, and the employers will not pay out any more than they have to.
Those seeking a big increase should go back to school and learn that three into two will not go, no matter how much you try. People living here are living on the breadline, and it's no good sitting in some office plucking figures out of thin air, and saying that is what we will charge them because sooner or later the money is going to run out. – Dave Bowkett, Cinderford.