The great council tax swindle (From Stroud News and Journal)

The great council tax swindle

I AM thinking of asking my boss for a ten percent pay rise.

By the same token, I live in hope that tomorrow when I wake up there will be a Porche with my name on it parked outside my house.

No such pipe dreams for the those who set the council tax though. In the fantasy world these people inhabit all they would appear to have to do is think of a figure, double it, consider it not enough and whack on some more.

Before the figures were set last week I telephoned my council to find out how much my increase was likely to be.

A laconic voice on the other end said she really didn't know but it would be a good idea to allow around 10 percent.

A good idea? As ideas go its brilliant. If only I could force a 10 percent hike up on my salary and savings for no other reason than I fancy a shopping spree.

All the old chestnuts are rolled out of course to justify the increase. Schools, hospitals, roads - all set to improve, yawn, yawn.

How come we've been paying this money for the best part of ten years and still have so little to show for it?

Why is my journey to work like driving over the craters of the moon and how come I can drive 1,000 miles through France from Calais to the Alps without spotting a single set of roadworks yet trying to get into Stroud is like a sketch from the BBC programme It's a Knockout.

I feel I have been mugged. What is galling is that it is perfectly legal.