MADAM – Election time is drawing near.

The Tory leaflet carping about council tax delivered in Nailsworth recently fails to mention that the rise of 10.6 per cent to the town precept would cost only 24p for each household per week (less than half the price of buying a copy of the SNJ).

This was voted for by a majority of all Nailsworth town councillors so that necessary repairs could be done to the sports pavilion, refurbish the gents’ toilets in the town hall and the renewal of the popular play area for young children at the King George V playing field.

Since this government came to power, Nailsworth has suffered a complete cut to the funding of its youth service and a savaging of its library service by the Tory county council.

It is a bit rich then for the Tories to say they want to ‘maintain our essential public services’.

The town council has done a great job in shouldering the financial shortfall and keeping the town in good shape.

As for the increases to district councillors allowances, it is well known that the overall cost has gone down since the abolishing of the cabinet system a year ago, with allowances shared more equably among all councillors.

Jo Smith (Mrs)

Nailsworth