So council leader Mike Bawden is blaming a possible council tax increase of 10 per cent on we 'Swindonians", due to an insufficient financial settlement from the government of £124.9 million, to fund our services and amenities for 2004.

However much more does he hope to receive to provide social services etc?

It is declared now that the average current salary for workers in Swindon is at £26,320 due to an increase of more professionals working here in Swindon. All of this however does not justify further increases of council tax of 10 per cent for year 2004.

Not one iota of thought has been given to the number of retired pensioners some 15,000, who have had to pay a total of 30 per cent increase over the last two years, and now it would be an impossibility to pay a further increase of 10 per cent.

Our pension increases are at the same value of two per cent as the cost of living index, and yet, we are expected to pay the same as all these people earning terrific wages as compared to what we received during our working lives.

The answer to council tax demands are either increase the tax these professionals could pay or cut out the social services requiring them and do a further assessment including a cost of living increase of two per cent to pay from we pensioners.

An immense uprising of protest and action in opposition to these increases of council tax from pensioners is becoming prevalent throughout Britain and also Swindon.

Please make our increase at cost of living benefit only.

R D Waldron

The Mall