A RETIRED Suffolk company director has got so frustrated by council tax rises that he's planning to cut his payments next year.Richard Roadnight from Brantham has written to the chief executive of Babergh council to warn that he will be cutting his monthly payments next year.

A RETIRED Suffolk company director has got so frustrated by council tax rises that he's planning to cut his payments next year.

Richard Roadnight from Brantham has written to the chief executive of Babergh council to warn that he will be cutting his monthly payments next year.

He has calculated the council tax on his home when it was introduced and has increased it by the rate of inflation for each year.

"At present I am paying about £115 a month, but we are unable to maintain these payments so from next April I will be paying £80 a month.

"I have calculated this is the correct sum – I have erred on the generous side – and it is a sum I can just about afford," he said.

He appreciated his stand could lead to a visit from the bailiffs, but felt a stand had to be made.

However he was keen to point out his argument was not with the local council.

"I have the highest regard for the prudent and efficient way Babergh Council carries out its duties," he said in his letter to chief executive Patricia Rockall.

"But as you are of course aware, our spendthrift government has offloaded a large slice of its tax gathering activities on to local councils in the hope this will fool the electorate into believing income tax has not been raised."

Mr Roadnight blames the government squarely for the council tax rises.

"We're clearly living in a very wealthy country – the government is able to spend billions on a war that no one seems to want but now says it can't pay enough to councils to keep vital services going without these swingeing rises," he said.