DURING the years of the last Tory Government, we were told repeatedly by our local councillors and Members of Parliament that St Helens was being starved of cash from Government funds and that resulted in a serious lack of investment in our local services and the big increases in the community charge.

As one of those homeowners who actually pay the full community charge, I looked forward to the day when that injustice would be put right and the council would be able to provide better social services, schools, housing, etc., without increasing the burden on the local tax payer.

Since the election of the New Labour Government, there has been a deathly hush in the corridors of power at the town hall on the subject so one would assume that we are now in the money.

The refurbishment of Victoria Square would hardly rate as a priority to those in need of better housing, home care and all the other services the council provide. It might be seen to be politically correct to topple Queen Victoria and move her over into the spare room, as it were, but as the square is traffic-free, was there a need for this and the cost involved?

There are, of course, several monuments around the town to the everlasting credit of our local leaders, such as the now unused Chalon Way inner ring road that leads to the unused outdoor St Mary's Market.

Why is it, I wonder, that Wigan, Widnes and Warrington all have thriving markets, both indoor and outdoor? Perhaps our councillors could get some advice from them.

C. Band. (name and address supplied).