THE crisis as described in your front page article (October 7) ?Cash Crisis Looms? has been looming over West Devon Borough Council ever since the current Government administration has been in power.

When this Labour administration took control in 1997 the rate support grant to Devon County Council was 246,833 million pounds and this year?s (2004/5) rate support grant is 199,300 million pounds, a decrease of 19.25%.

The borough council?s rate support grant is proportionally the same. Likewise it is us, the council tax payers, who have contributed an extra 51.87% to the contributions we have made to support our councils to 249,300 million pounds to Devon County Council and similarly to WDBC so as to meet demands made upon the councils by Central Government.

This situation has been the concern of many readers and is well known to your reporters who have recorded events and protests made to all our elected representatives with little results shown by Central Government to the respectful demands made to them.

It is my view that this matter should be resolved very quickly, certainly before the next general election.

C D J Mathis

Maudlins Park

Tavistock