MANY of us can remember the poll tax riots of the early 1990s when a grassroots rebellion saw thousands take to the streets to the slogan: Can't Pay Won't Pay. The uprising is believed to have helped force prime minister Margaret Thatcher from Downing Street.

Now record-breaking proposed council tax rises such as Swindon's are fuelling fresh disquiet with pensioners taking to the streets and some refusing to pay the increases.

Since 1991 when councils lost control of the business rate, councils can raise on average a quarter of their spending. Currently, Swindon Council collects around £80m in rates from firms on behalf of the Government, but receives only £50m of it back.

But with a big majority of the money being ringfenced for education and social care, there is precious little to spend on other services.

We will see what the public thinks of Swindon Council's options for services and council tax rates. These will be revealed on January 22 after a consultation exercise.

But this disquiet has finally shaken the Government into action perhaps it wants to avoid another poll tax scenario and its consequences.

Ministers have revealed to MPs that the present system will be scrapped within four years to be replaced by a regional system.

Swindon pensioner Frank Avenell says that his members are angry over the present system and warns there is no room for any more botch-ups.

He is right the people won't put up with any more unfair taxation.