MR Davey (letters May 7 , Echo website) really should try to understand that you don’t buy bread with percentages. The increase in the Hythe & Dibden Parish Council “whopping tax increase of 3.5 per cent” represents £2.38 per year per band D council taxpayer. He wants you to think the 2.7 per cent NFDC Tory increase is comparatively modest. Actually it is £4.014 /year – almost twice as much in real money. The unnecessary Tory county tax increase of ‘only’ 1.9 per cent is actually over £19 when they have £180 million stashed in reserves.

If Mr Davey is really keen on comparing Lib Dem run Hythe and Dibden Parish with the rest of the Forest he should look at the Police statistics of all reportable crime. In employing our own Community Safety Officers, paying for a Police Community Support Officer, our own part sponsored youth workers and with close liaison with local police we are having an impact on those statistics. The Liberal Democrat run Hythe and Dibden parish Council is having a real influence in improving people’s quality of life by taking action to reduce anti social behaviour and crime. But then the Tories know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. I am equally sure that he would be reluctant to compare the state of Hampshire’s pothole-infested roads with those elsewhere! Mr Davey might also care to consider the fact of the £350,000 court costs arising out of Tory incompetence in the Leisure Centres debacle will cost another £5 per taxpayer in due course .

Cllr Malcolm Wade, immediate past chairman Hythe & Dibden P C, District Councillor Butts Ash & Dibden Purlieu.