COUNCILLORS have branded their residents 'Victor Meldrews' after a survey revealed fewer people felt the services being provided were satisfactory.

Ribble Valley's three-yearly survey revealed that 69 per cent of people felt they were fairly satisfied with the way the council operated.

The last time the survey was carried out, in 2001, the figure was 74.3

Although the figures compare well with national satisfaction rates for local councils, the figures also revealed 12 per cent of people thought services had become worse over the last three years.

And just 33 per cent of people who complained to the authority said they were happy with the way their complaint had been handled, down on 2001. Then, the figure was 47.9 per cent.

Details of the survey, presented to a meeting of the policy and finance committee, were greeted with dismay.

Coun Jim Rogerson, who represents Longridge, said: "I would be the first to complain if I felt things were getting worse but they are not.

"People are becoming less tolerant and will moan at the slightest thing.

"People now complain if their bins are late being emptied. They wouldn't have done in the past.

"I think people just complain more because they think they can get something out of it. It is the compensation culture gone mad."

Another councillor claimed more residents were becoming 'Victor Meldrews.'

Coun Chris Holtom, chairman of the committee, said: "I think we are suffering more because people are more likely to complain.

"But we shouldn't just assume that a complaint is being made for the sake of it.

"I am worried that people don't feel their complaints are being dealt with properly.

"That's something we have to look at and find out why it is happening."

Nationally, satisfaction with the local council stands at 55per cent.

That is down on 65 per cent in 2001.