GAZETTE & HERALD: Retired Tom Perry owns a Band C property in Beechwood Road, Chippenham and has watched his council tax charge soar by more than 81 per cent in the last eight years.

"It's diabolical," said Mr Perry, 58.

"As a householder I don't know how North Wiltshire District Council can justify this rise.

"I am mystified about what kind of benefits I am supposed to have received that warrant an 81 per cent rise and this is now set to rise even further with this year's budget."

This is how the tax has risen: 1996-1997 £569.09, 1997-1998 £608.78, 1998-1999 £681.47, 1999-2000 £724.95, 2000-2001 £785.46, 2001-2002 £894.64, 2002-2003 £934.23, 2003-2004 £1004.13 a total increase of 81.5 per cent.

Mr Perry said he was aware that the recycling initiative had required extra funding through council tax and called it a worthy expenditure.

But, as a retired person, he said he was watching his funds dwindling, with each extra council tax rise.

"As the years go by, I'm set to get poorer and poorer," he said, "The rise in my pension does not match the rise in council tax. Meanwhile I am reading about councillors' expenses going up and up, while there's only more expense for me to look forward to next year I'm sure I'm one of many householders who want to know why this is."