Sir,

Concern has recently been expressed by our local county councillor re. some OAP's missing out on 'certain entitlements'. My present age is 88, at which stage in life I do at least find a need to spend my limited finances with a degree of caution!

I have been unable to take a bath for the last three years or so due to problems getting down into it and even greater problems trying to get up and out of it afterwards, so of course have solved the problem of becoming a social misfit in probably the most offensive manner possible, by using the shower available at the end of the bath. This, however, became an arduous task simply by virtue of having to firstly climb into the bath and finally having to climb out, whilst standing during showering on a sloping area within a somewhat confined space throughout the showering process.

My wife and I recently decided that as a life preservation exercise and to possibly save the NHS the costs involved in the repair of broken bones (assuming life still existed) it would be advantageous and sensible, for all concerned or likely to be, to have our bath replaced with a 'walk-in' shower unit which has now been done at a cost (to us) in excess of £2,000. It is a vast improvement on the previous 'dodgy' (for me) arrangement and worth every penny.

When the work of replacement started I knew that there would be a quantity of waste materials for disposal and 'phoned the council to make arrangements. I was given a reference number and told to call them again when the job was completed, whereon they would send someone to assess the quantity of items and then let me have a quotation for the actual removal. This pattern was followed precisely by me and resulted in two men arriving in a large van and started with the words "it's going to cost you!", which I assumed was an opening gambit of humorous intent. I soon realised that my assumption was totally incorrect when the man consulted the pages of a file and announced that the cost would be £105, whereon I bid the pair of them a fond farewell.

We had out eldest grandson from Southport holidaying with us for a few days, so he took the metal waste to a local scrap dealer who paid us £10 for it. The remainder of the waste was disposed of in a perfectly legitimate manner by a local youth with the use of our wheelbarrow, for which service we gave him the £10 paid by the scrap dealer, so that all has been completely cleared and thankfully at no cost.

I am now rather more curious than ever as to precisely what I am supposed to be getting for the sum, currently in excess of £1,000 per annum, as paid by me to the council - an occasional newspaper-type publication perhaps, issued by the council and extolling the virtues of all the council members and staff, telling us how well they are doing things to improve our lot, all at the lowest cost of most authorities throughout Wales?

The manner in which this matter has been dealt with by the council is, of course, precisely the stimulus which is guaranteed to generate one of their worst enemies (and the utter disgust of all decent community minded local residents) - fly tipping.

I have spoken to numerous people about this and I can tell you that without exception their initial reaction has been one of disgust bordering on disbelief!

Frederic G. Morton,

Broadmoor,