IT is about time the needs of Wiltshire are recognised by the Government.

An apparently prosperous county with low unemployment where the stockbrokers from London retreat to at weekends that is how Wiltshire is viewed by many, including civil servants in London.

The weekenders and low unemployment are undoubtedly true but it is not a county rolling in wealth.

The crisis in agriculture, the decline in the village store and a large Army presence means Wiltshire has its fair share of poverty and deprivation.

It is not on the same scale as cities such as London but Wiltshire's needs are just as important as those in London's Tower Hamlets or Handsworth in Birmingham.

As you can read on the opposite page, the Government's Standard Spending Assessment formula favours inner cities, large authorities and, here's the rub, high-spending councils. Wiltshire is being penalised for using its finances prudently in the past.

The average funding from the Government per head of population for shire counties this financial year is £479 but Wiltshire gets £432 a difference of £47.

If Wiltshire was brought up to the shire county average it would mean another £20 million could be spent on vital services such as education, social services and highways. Years of underfunding have led to financial crisis, with cuts and higher fees.

The crisis in social services means the county council cannot afford to fund all placements in care homes for elderly people and currently 99 people are in hospital blocking beds.

In our schools more funding is needed to support children with special educational needs and planned improvements to link schools by computer are behind schedule.

Investment in roads falls woefully short of what is spent in neighbouring counties. The result is 180 priority sites need improvements to make them safer.

The Gazette believes enough is enough and is calling on readers to support our campaign to get more money for Wiltshire. It is time we stood up and fought for our county, we urge all our readers to fill in the form on Page 9 and send it to 10 Downing Street.