I, AND no doubt most of the 3,500 people who signed the recent petition, am very angry at the way that I J Howard (EA, Feb 27) attacked Mr Frank Avenell over his continued fight for a fair and just increase in the council tax.

Mr Howard is of course quite entitled to put forward his views but he should first check his facts before putting pen to paper. I do not think that Mr Avenell will become a bore and lose support and it is good to see that he is determined to keep up the pressure against the unfair increase.

Although he speaks for his Fairness for Pensioners Group Frank has made it quite clear in all his letters that he wants a lesser increase not only for pensioners but for all the low paid and fixed income members of the community.

Mr Howard implies that people voted Labour in the recent elections in spite of knowing what increase the Conservatives were suggesting. I am sure that they would have not done so if they knew that our Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors were proposing to increase the amount set by the Tories.

The forthcoming elections in June will no doubt prove my point.

Mr Howard should cease, as should all our councillors whatever their political colour, to try to play the party game and to concentrate their efforts in improving the lot of those less fortunate than themselves.

Carry on the good work Frank on behalf of all of us. Keep up the pressure and remember that there are an awful lot of people who support you.

R W SELWAY

Burden Close

Stratton St Margaret

Swindon