YORK'S pensioners need to act now against the threat of impoverishment later this year.

The Liberal Democrat leader of the City of York moots rises in council tax of between ten per cent and 12 per cent for the next financial year. Why, when the Labour Government proposes £1.2 million increase in the central grant for the city's budget?

This amount is a real increase in money for the council, being above the current rate of inflation.

York MP Hugh Bayley has called for the council to get a grip on its ideas for future spending and avoid any possibility of central government "capping".

"Getting a grip" and avoiding fecklessness are necessities of life for pensioners. Hugh Bayley deserves, and needs, their support.

P Hardy,

Danesmead Close,

York.

...PENSIONERS such as myself are being exploited in our old age by lack of consideration by the Government - national and local.

When you relate the council tax to pensions the average pensioner loses the equivalent of 12 weeks' pension payments a year.

Council tax increases far outweigh the pension rises every year. Therefore, it doesn't take a genius to calculate that, in reality, pension values do not increase but decrease year in, year out.

It is time for pensioners to take action.

Brian Gee,

Alder Way,

New Earswick, York.

Updated: 10:44 Saturday, February 07, 2004