LAST summer, while pegging out washing, a gust of wind slammed my back door shut severely cracking the wire mesh-enforced glass.

I went down to my local council office at Blackbrook to report it, expecting them to replace it. I was told that I would have to get the work paid for myself.

Recently I received a circular to inform me that the council was increasing rents by £2.50 per week. The reason was provided in the circular: "This rent increase is unavoidable if the council is to maintain services and to tackle repairs and improvements needed to council stock."

How they have the audacity to put rents up AGAIN is beyond me. It seems like I'm paying the council to maintain my property only for me to fork out for my own repairs. Doesn't sound like value for money.

Disgruntled rent-payer (name and address supplied).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.