HOW has it got to this state of affairs? Why is that we now pay more for less all the time? The council tax rises each year but services certainly do not. The refuse sacks are getting thinner all the time. The council kindly provides one sack per week per household.

Even with recycling as much as we can it still doesn't take long to fill a sack, with the consequence that as soon as one lifts the sack it breaks.

I walk round this town a lot and despair when I see the state of the streets and pavements.

Hedges and shrubs overhang pavements, making passing very difficult at times. In years past the town was much cleaner and tidier.

The same applies to our postal service. Recently I posted letters in the box inside Sainsbury's at 3.10pm and it was almost overflowing. It states that the box is emptied at 11am and 3pm. I cannot believe all that mail was posted between 3pm and 3.10pm.

The services we get nowadays are very poor. I think this country has gone backwards. The question has to be asked, is this the fault of national or local government? Whatever the answer, ultimately the taxpayer always has to pay the escalating charges.

E MIZEN

Devizes