I WRITE in response to Councillor Howard Martin's letter (Shuttle/Times and News, March 13) concerning Council Tax increases.

I support broadly the sentiments he made and would like to underline one point - that the root cause for this year's 11.9 per cent increase lies squarely with Labour Government policy.

Public indignation against these rises should be directed towards the Government.

What we are seeing up and down the country is this tax soaring at an average rate of 12.9 per cent - four times the rate of inflation - due to Government policy.

It means someone living in Wyre Forest in a Band D house will be paying £994 a year in Council Tax - a rise of 56 per cent since 1997. There can be no doubt that this can be strongly attributed to Government policy to switch central funds from efficient councils in the south and Midlands to the inefficient, often Labour-run councils in the north.

One only has to look at this year's local government funding to see how Wyre Forest has received a poor deal.

Figures just released reveal there is a shortfall of nearly five per cent in grants to Wyre Forest, leaving it with no option but to push up Council Tax.

I believe Wyre Forest deserves a better deal. Make no mistake these Council Tax increases are hitting some of the most vulnerable in society.

NATHAN DESMOND

Conservative district councillor

Oldington and Foley

Rhuddlan Way, Kidderminster