IN response to Blackburn with Darwen Council writing off £979,912 of unpaid council house rents, council tax and business tax (LET, January 10), the comments by deputy leader Gail Barton that "the council collection rate compares well with other councils" is hardly a reason for it to accept these write-offs.

This money has to be funded from those members of the community who pay up. For those who do not, it amounts to theft from the community.

What would happen if we all decided not to pay? Would the council write off all our bills? Of course not.

I would like the council to advise us of how many of those not paying are repeat offenders, how many prosecutions were made for non-payment of rent and taxes and how many evictions were enforced for non-payment of rents and taxes.

Blackburn with Darwen Council should not have a target of "being on a par with other councils" but one of having zero write-off, other than those not able to be pay, having first pursued payment via the courts.

STEPHEN DUNCAN, Park Road, Whitehall, Darwen.