COUNCIL Tax revaluation and rebanding is happening in Wales first and then it will happen in England. This affects us all.

Some people will be subject to crippling increases of two bands or more.

The reason is that the banding values for most properties have only doubled from the presently-used 1991 values while actual property values have, on average, trebled over the same period.

It is, therefore, inevitable that a significant number of properties will be shifting bands.

It is difficult to believe people will tolerate such increases but, of course, this information is not widely known and we in England won't be subjected to the increases until well after the County Council elections on May 5 and the coming General Election - expected on the same day.

This unjust, unfair and complex system of funding local government must be abolished and replaced by a system that is based on ability to pay.

Everyone uses and relies on local services so everyone should make a contribution.

In most cases, the estimated and inflated market value of your house bears no relationship to how much you can afford to contribute.

RA Clements,

Minster Close,

Wigginton, York.

Updated: 10:16 Thursday, March 31, 2005