SO the Government has acted true to form and once again delivered a funding snub to people Wiltshire.

Despite weeks of lobbying ministers, protests from Gazette readers and letters from school pupils, Tony Blair and his ministers told the county this week it will receive just six per cent more in funding next year.

In real terms, by the time you take into account inflation, the backlog of work to be done in schools and on our roads, and the increasing burden on Social Services, the county will have hardly any extra money at all.

This means everyone will face higher council tax bills next year just to keep the county's finances on an even keel.

The Government's Rural White Paper, announced this week, does offer some hope for more freedom in planning and decision making but there is precious little extra money for transport or housing, in other words nothing that will ease the burden placed on the county by its rural nature.

MPs Michael Ancram and James Gray insist they have fought hard for the county but they must ask themselves, could they have done more?

If they really are fighting on our behalf then we must expect to hear them at Prime Minister's Question Time championing our cause.

The politicians at County Hall believe there is still a chance the county may win a funding reprieve if there is more lobbying of the Government.

That must be a forlorn hope but, while there is a chance, we urge all our readers to make the most of it.