As we enter a new financial year, during which the less well-paid among us are already being penalised by Gordon Brown's scrapping of the ten per cent income tax band, it seems Diss Town Council kindly wishes to give us an even higher share of the tax burden by increasing its levy considerably once again.
For the past ten years Diss Town has seen several hefty percentage increases in the local precept.
The earliest bill I have relates to 1998-99, when the Diss precept was only £36.75.
This year's increase sends it up to £99.55, almost three ti
mes the 1998-99 amount, while the county and district portions have merely (I use this word with tongue in cheek) doubled.
Other towns of a similar size or larger in neighbouring districts ask for about 50 per cent less than Diss Town Council.
Where will this end? We are now paying more to our town council than to South Norfolk Council.
At least the district levy pays for valuable services such as bin collection, recycling and housing vulnerable people among other things.
Although there have been a couple of attempts by Diss Town Council to justify the latest increases, I personally feel they've gone a step too far and need to take a reality check.
Norfolk is full of low paid workers and pensioners who can ill afford this latest addition to an already unfair and punitive local and national tax burden.
Will Diss Town Council have free rein to impose yet another outrageous hike in 2009?
Barbara Lipinski, Stanley Road, DissApathy or a waste of time?
It is gratifying to learn from the Diss Express on April 11 that at last the vacancy on Roydon Parish Council has been filled.
But why has it taken so long for some one from more than 1,100 houses to come forward to fill the long-advertised position?
Is it the apathy of the parishioners who have little interest in their village or perhaps they feel they would be wasting their time since South Norfolk Council ignores decisions made by local councillors.
One case being the Hayes Affordable Homes planning application, when the planning committee frustrated both Diss and Roydon councillors by completely disregarding the local recommendations.
Leslie J Burrows, RoydonParty flies highThe Air Ambulance benefitted by donations totalling £587 at a celebration party held in Thorpe Abbotts village hall
The party was to celebrate our ruby wedding in November 2007, retirement and birthday December 2007, birthday 2008, and 100 years bellringing between us.
A further £103 was handed to the Air Ambulance resulting from donations at our spa and sauna evenings.
Many thanks to all who supported us.
J & H Websdell, Wilderness Close, HarlestonThe full article contains 463 words and appears in Diss Express newspaper.
