MIDDLEWICH residents have for the year 2018-19 the third highest council tax demand from Cheshire East, just behind Sandbach and Nantwich.

All residents pay the same borough, fire and police component of the tax so the difference is totally due to the town precept.

While not decrying the excellent public events that they receive in return for this amount, it needs to be remembered that some find this payment excessive. This might be because they do not benefit from these expenditures or genuinely need every penny for keeping themselves and their families warm, fed and clothed.

I know there are opportunities for the town inhabitants to learn how their money is spent at public meetings and in perusing public documents though in reality, those who come into the latter category mentioned above are the very people who find it challenging to obtain this information and hold the Middlewich First and Labour councillors who determine the budget to account.

The local Liberal Democrats, if in control of the town budget, would examine these items of expenditure to see if we could save some vital pounds while maintaining and improving the essential public services that all residents benefit from.

Dr Peter Hirst Chairman of Congleton Constituency Liberal Democrats