I READ with disgust the article on page 8 of the Journal last week (January 18) from Worcestershire County Council. How can they be allowed to get away with holding us all to ransom in this way? 'We want your views on the choices facing us' they say. In reality they want us to say it's ok for them to demand more money from us to throw away through mismanagement and overspending.

Lies, damn lies and statistics! It is interesting to see the county use statistics to put across their argument. I spend my job using statistics, and am well aware of how they can be abused. Perhaps we should look at a few statistics which look at the wider picture:

The Government has suggested an increase in council tax of 4.9%. Worcestershire therefore give us three choices, a 7.5% increase, a 10.7% increase of a massive 13% increase. Some choice.

This is on top of the 9.5% increase last year, 9% increase the year before and 9.5% increase the year before that. That's an incredible 50% increase in four years. In other words if you paid £680 in 1997/8 you will be asked to pay more than £1,000 this year.

How can they even consider asking for a 13% increase with inflation at record low levels of less than 2%?

They go on about why they need extra money. There are more children, and therefore costs go up in the schools. They don't point out that the extra children have come from new homes which have been built in the area - new homes which bring additional revenue through an increase in the number of council tax payers.

A 13% increase in our council tax bill is likely to gain the council closer to 20% more money. The average number of children per household has actually fallen, so how can they demand additional money per family?

They say Worcestershire has the second lowest council tax in England. However what they fail to point out is that this is for an average English house. Since the average house in Worcestershire is worth more than the average in England we are actually getting charged more per household than many other counties.

Rather than trying to blackmail us all into taking the increase on the chin, perhaps the county should take a look at the way they operate.

Perhaps they should consider reducing their overheads, cutting back in areas where they are wasting money. Like everyone else in the 21st century perhaps local government has to learn they can't just throw money away when they feel like it, they do have a responsibility to those of us who pay their wages.

I ask you all to fill in the form included in last week's Journal, or write to the county council telling them you will not put up with these outrageous increases any longer. Then, just maybe, they'll realise it's time to look in the mirror and try to cut costs, rather than turn to us time and time again and demand more.

CHRIS GOODERHAM, Ryelands, Wyre Piddle, Pershore, via email.