MOST of the good citizens of Wiltshire will have received their council tax bills for 2006/7 and will no doubt have noticed that once again the council have increased the tax by 5.4 per cent, nearly twice the rate of inflation.

There has been an increase of 120 per cent in 10 years, over the same period inflation was 39 per cent. Even more people will be pushed into poverty, hardship and mental distress.

When will this government realise that this iniquitous system results in low income people paying a higher percentage of their income for the same council services as those people with higher income?

For the pensioner couple it can represent 18 per cent of their basic pension each week (band D). It is not surprising that some brave souls have refused to pay and have endured prison as a protest. In Wiltshire the council is employing bailiffs to recover unpaid council tax and non-domestic rates and have announced the recovery of over £100,000 in the last six months. I hope they feel proud of themselves.

This draconian measure effectively deters protesters who, whilst prepared to suffer the indignity of a short prison sentence, do not wish for their property and belongings to be seized and their credit worthiness destroyed.

None of us like this situation but don't know what to do about it. But this is the action you can take: photocopy your council tax bill and send the photocopy with a suitable comment on it, such as "How am I supposed to pay for this?" or "What percentage of your income do you pay in council tax?" to: Mr John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU Thousands of people throughout the UK are going to do this as a peaceful protest against this unjust form of taxation. It is Mr Prescott's department which is responsible for council tax policy and legislation, perhaps they will get the message.

Mr Green, Warminster