A YORK pensioner is threatening to "cut" his monthly council tax payments if they rise by ten per cent this year.

David Findlay, 71, of Haxby, has written to City of York Council leader Steve Galloway, and also to the authority's finance department, to complain about constant rises in his bills.

In his letter, he says: "Twelve years ago my payments were £48 a month. My council tax has gone up by over 300 per cent, while my pension has increased by less than 40 per cent.

"So the council tax has just about gobbled up any increase in my pension.

"Virtually all we see from the council is the refuse collection, while the problem of excessive traffic and speeding past our front door is not solved.

"I propose to join the thousands of pensioners protesting against this iniquitous tax and will make my point by withdrawing one payment - ten per cent of the ten monthly direct debits this year, if the tax is put up by this amount."

Mr Findlay receives a pension from North Yorkshire County Council, where he worked for nearly 30 years, as well as his basic state pension.

He told the Evening Press: "I am now getting to the point where ends don't meet.

"Pensioners have come to the end of their earning life - why should they have to bear the same amount of increase as everybody else?"

City of York Council will announce the council tax for 2004/05 on February 24. There has been speculation that the rise could be between ten and 12 per cent.

Coun Galloway said: "The rises in council tax have been less in York than elsewhere in the country.

"If people are suffering hardship then the best thing to do is to seek a council tax rebate - we are launching a campaign this spring to make sure that everyone who is eligible for a rebate gets one."

He said that when the budget for next year was announced there would be a package "of considerable value" for pensioners.

Many pensioners at St Sampson's Social Centre for Old People, in York, were angry at the prospect of a ten per cent council tax rise - though none was prepared to withdraw any payments.

Gladys Weighell, 90, of Bishopthorpe, said: "I don't think pensioners should have to pay council tax. We have worked all our lives - why should we have to pay?"

Updated: 10:52 Friday, February 06, 2004