IN the remarks made by the council leader I could not fail to notice his contentment and vision.

However, mention the Brunel Shopping Centre, the first thing which comes to mind is not the intended expansion, but the shop fronts boarded up and unoccupied. When the seasonal shops close, many more empty properties will be added to the list.

There are many more subjects the council and its leader should be addressing: the council tax and how to cut the unnecessary expenditure. The waste is well recorded.

I failed to notice any significant reduction of road traffic into town during the holiday period.

The next increase in council tax had better be in the lower figures, as it's the intention of quite a few senior citizens, myself included, to pay a nominal sum, in relation to our pension increase.

I can assure the council I shall not be alone in this action as quite a few seniors will find it very difficult to make payment.

We live in a filthy environment. There is speculation of once a fortnight collection of refuse, also of closure of residential homes, and yet vast sums are spent or lost on filling housing stock with council taxpayers who have little or no intention of working or paying council tax or rent.

I witnessed the debate in council, also cabinet meetings subjects become a political football, with no end product.

Let us have some sensible dialogue from our elected representatives. It concerns us all young and old at this moment in time, council cabinet meetings hardly break wind!

ROY N DERBYSHIRE

Park North