BLACKPOOL residents -- how does it feel to be well and truly stitched up by the very council that you voted for?

You know, the ones that you genuinely thought were looking out for your best interests?

Having just received my council tax bill for this year, I find it difficult to stomach. All told it's cost me around an extra fifty quid for this year as opposed to half that sum for the previous year. In actual fact, they've pulled off one of the biggest con tricks that any organisation can do. Quite simply, by hiking up the bill for each household by a huge amount this year, assuming that they don't apply the same trick next time around (using the "people will soon forget" tactic) any reduction in the council tax for the following year will automatically put them into a good light.

But the fact is, by this very action, the established figure for this year has become the "new baseline" for the next year, so not only has the council received a nice (thank you very much suckers) gratuity for this year, next year you will pay exactly the same plus whatever "they" decide to add on.

They must think that their constituents do not have the intelligence to see through this caper.

While we are at it, when is the council going to repair the fence at the rear of Lindale Gardens opposite Highfield school? You know the one I mean, the one that your subcontractors damaged during the summer of 1999, the one that the residents have constantly complained about and you have ignored.

Oh sorry, I forgot, you've got no funds to pay for the repair. Well you have now! So get your finger out!

Name and address supplied.