SO the average earnings in Swindon are £26,320.

If this is compared with the average income for pensioners of £7,000 it is clear that some people are already living in poverty in our town and many more will see their meagre earning reduced still further by large increases in council tax. The problem is that pensioners cannot increase their earnings by doing more work or overtime, they just have to pay and live on less.

This situation should not be tolerated, being old should not mean poverty.

Peter Mallinson

The Bramptons