Tax increase is too much

IF it is true that St Neots Town Council has overspent the budget and borrowed its limit over the next three years, it is hard to believe that the Council Tax increase will be only 5.75 per cent, which is too much anyway – it was 10 per cent last year – a

IF it is true that St Neots Town Council has overspent the budget and borrowed its limit over the next three years, it is hard to believe that the Council Tax increase will be only 5.75 per cent, which is too much anyway - it was 10 per cent last year - and 5.75 per cent would not even pay the interest on what this town council owes already.

It would not surprise me to see, come April 1, that the tax has risen from 5.75 per cent to 10 per cent like last year or even more.

Councillor Giles [the council's leader] will say we didn't want to increase taxes, but our important principle is to deliver a good service, to improve our town centre and attract shoppers.

But what have they done for this town so far over the last two years but get us in more debt? I find 5.75 per cent a rip off. But watch this space on April 1. I just cant wait and see what Mr Giles will say then. He won't say fair deal for the people, that's for sure.

I would like to challenge the town council to have an open meeting at the Priory Centre so the people could have their say. They did when they asked the people what they wanted for the town, so why not now? But that will not happen: they're hiding too many secrets.

JAMES CLARK

Vice-chairman, Conservative branch for Eynesbury and St Neots

The Broadwalk

Eynesbury