MR R Davies (Letters, June 1) believes external funding for regeneration in Darwen is restricted in favour of Blackburn and that people in Darwen also lose out in value for their Council Tax.

His call for more regenerative funding is based on a report that Darwen has slipped 192 places in the Profitable Companies' National League, which must send an important signal to the town hall.

As regards local taxpayers, value for money only has relevance for those who pay Council Tax -- many don't, but they still have a big say in how other people's money is spent -- at the Ballot Box!

Darwen may be low in the Profitable Companies' League but, ironically, as part of Blackburn with Darwen Council, it is near the top of the "National Rate Payers' League," with one of the highest rates of Council Tax in the land.

Yet Blackburn's ruling Labour group claims this year's tax increase is low; only 4.8 per cent, but it is double inflation and the annual rate at Band D has been hiked from £661 to £1,010 in five years -- a staggering 10.55 per cent a year. Blackburn's new figure compares perniciously with the 46 unitary authorities in England, which have a median rate of £870 -- £140 lower. Blackburn is fifth from the top of the Super League.

It is also significant that since the first full year of unitary status, Blackburn's net spending amounts to an accumulative addition of £33.2million of money taken from taxpayers over three years.

The reasons for high spending by Labour-controlled councils are an unwillingness to differentiate between "what is necessary" and "what is desirable" and the failure to recognise that an economy needs any tax cuts it can afford, to fuel growth and employment.

To get the best out of the economy, all tax rates should be brought as low and as soon as possible and if New Labour's concept of 'Best Value' is ever to be applied to Blackburn with Darwen's Council Taxpayers, they must be long overdue for staged refunds.

COUN J H Hirst, Beardwood with Lammack Ward.