AS I go on my daily walk along the lane from my house to the shops to buy your paper, I am faced with a vast increase in fly-tipping, usually garden waste, over the past few months.

This is due to the decision of the Conservative council to increase our taxes, for those of us who want to pay, by £40 per house.

Along with the other increases in charges they have foisted on us for services they have not so stealthily increased our council tax by underhand and back door methods.

This reminds me of an old story. A man goes into a cafe and buys a cappuccino and a slice of sponge cake.

Over the next few visits he finds the coffee becomes downgraded to one with milk and then to tea while the cake becomes a pack of biscuits and finally disappears altogether, but the owner still charges the same amount.

By the same token, we have seen a massive reduction in manpower and services provided by the Tory council and yet the price we have paid has stayed the same.

Surely, we should be entitled to a reduction in council tax as we are getting less than we used to. Now, I know the Government has been subsidising the tax to a point but I really believe that compared to several years ago I am not getting the same as I used to but I am still expected to pay the same.

I notice the Tory council administration will have to cut another £17 million from services for next year. How about proportionately reducing my council tax as well?

Bob Pixton, Abney Moor, Swindon