THE last year has seen significant rises in the cost of food and fuel. Many less well off older people on fixed incomes have already had to cut down on these essentials to find money to pay the obscenely rising council tax

THE last year has seen significant rises in the cost of food and fuel.

Many less well off older people on fixed incomes have already had to cut down on these essentials to find money to pay the obscenely rising council tax.

These people should not be asked to pour money into Portishead's uneconomic open-air pool enjoyed by only a few. And, of course, there are many other citizens who can afford to pay for it, but would rather spend their own money on their own priorities, thank you very much.

The petitions to save the pool show that some people still think that the taxpayer's pocket is a source of 'free money'. If we do not stop thinking this, council taxes will keep going up and up as they have done over the last few years. Unless the figures we have been given are very far wrong, it is right that the taxpayer should stop paying for this pool.

Of course, the problem could be solved if the swimmers were willing to pay the full running cost - about £20 per visit. If they feel that this price is not worth it, why should it be worth it for their neighbours who do not even use the pool?

The idea of a trust may be a good one. If those who enjoy this rather expensive sport find a way to pay for it themselves, I am all for it. But the trust must not come back again to the taxpayers asking them to foot the bill by a different route.

I am sorry to sound discouraging, but, if we want to do something about the excessive rises in council tax, the only way is to stop spending so much.

COUNCILLOR D CAMERON - Portishead Town Council, Coast Ward