FURTHER to the letter (The Citizen, 28 March 2002), concerning the problems regarding the refuse collection in Boundary Street, Leyland, I feel that Mr Heald has a good point.

How do we make sure that the council carry out the duties that we are paying for?

As a self-employed person I am working all hours to pay my bills and I, like most people, want value for money.

Councils throughout the region are trying to justify the rise in council tax bills, blaming it on government cuts.

In South Ribble's case, council tax has gone up some 21 per cent.

So what are we gaining for the money we are expected to pay out? Are we getting a better service and improved living conditions?

I have lived in Leyland for far too many years and tangible improvements are a little thin on the ground.

Every year, the council tax bill rises and yet there is still a major problem in the area regarding crime unemployment, lack of facilities for children and youths, lack of support for the elderly, not enough being done to encourage recycling initiativesto tackle the landfill problems, dirty streets, roads full of pot-holes, not enough support for local businesses etc, etc.

What positive and effective action is taking place to tackle these and other issues?

We can all sit back and just accept a 21per cent council tax rise without question and just put down the aforementioned problems as being 'the state of the world today' or we can start making our feelings known by campaigning to the council and to the local MPs whenever the services we are paying for fall below acceptable standards and to call for more feasible solutions to tackle the issues we are living with and having to pay for.

Ms C. Strange, Leyland