D Sims, of Dartmouth, writes:

I think there are clearly some members of Dartmouth Town Council who are either totally oblivious to the current economic climate, unaware of the impact this has had on a large proportion of the population or who just do not care.

Luxuries such as holidays, day trips with the children, a meal out, trip to the cinema are a thing of the past for many of us.

Every penny is watched and the challenge is to make your wages – which many people have not seen increased in for a number of years now – stretch to cover rent or mortgate, utility bills, council tax, essential car bills and feed the family.

Whatever the increase is – from £1 to £20 – means less money to go towards these essentials in life.

Although most people are in agreement for the need of a new indoor swimming pool, if it came down to the choice of donating to this or feeding your family, I think you'll find even the members of the town council would choose their families.

Paul Reach's comments in last week's Chronicle were an eye-opener as to why the town council has not got the funds.

And yes, it seems councillors feel - after their mismanagement of Dartmouth residents' money – they have the right to ask us to pay more. I find it hard to believe the bare-faced cheek of the council.

Perhaps the town council would like to answer a few questions regarding the finance of the pool. When the commitment was first made to assist with financing the pool, what was the plan at that time to raise these funds? How has this failed?

How much per year does the 30 per cent increases in council tax total?

How much does the council have towards the funds needed?

There have been quite a number of fundraising events, it would be appreciated if the town council would publish a list of these and the amounts raised.Will the council tax be reduced once the pool has the necessary funds?

Perhaps the town council should take a leaf out of Devon County Council's book, which, page two of last week's Chronicle, confirmed it will not be increasing its proportion of the council tax due to being fully aware of the public's financial circumstances.

Let's hope the relevant members of the town council take a wake-up pill and stop the increase going ahead.