HEREWITH a few observations concerning the three meetings held in the Council Chamber in respect of this year's council tax level, which I attended.

A number of speakers complained at the amount of litter in their areas, despite the fact that Swindon Council last year doubled the original amount allocated for street cleaning by an additional £100,000.

They have received no help from the local police.

A steady trickle of litter louts through Swindon's magistrates' courts would soon bring about a dramatic improvement, thus reducing the cost of this essential service.

I do not share the view of those speakers who doubted that a council tax rise of three per cent or less, forecast by councillors Mike Bawden and Nick Martin, was obtainable.

All that is requested is elimination of the financial waste and incompetence which was a principal feature of the previous administration.

FRANK AVENELL

Beckhampton Street