SIR – NONE of the Baildon Town Council have been elected through the ballot box. Six were elected unopposed, five co-opted and one vacancy.

It is questioned whether this virtually unelected body had the remit to increase the precept by 125 per cent since its inception in 2007, being ten times that of the general rate which during the same period increased by 12.5 per cent.

It is intimated that the Baildon precept will be used to maintain public services whereas those without a local council will continue to benefit from the general rate.

The grant system to local organisations perpetuates the culture of reliance rather than self resource whereas formerly they prospered and had more self respect when they competed direct for City assistance, relied on local charities and worked on their own fund raising.

On major issues our Town Council is embarrassingly impotent through being ignored by the City Council.

It is questioned whether the electorate’s lack of involvement with the Town Council justifies the continuation of its power to impose a precept.

Perhaps at the next local city election we should support prospective councillors who are committed to working towards Baildon getting out of Bradford a fairer proportion of what we put in.

John Pashley, Westcliffe Avenue, Baildon