Sir,

I have written to you before about the forthcoming 50 per cent increase in council tax for ‘second homes’, but have a further point that needs to be made.

There used to be a fundamental rule about the working of a democratic government ‘No taxation without representation’.

This hike in council tax obviously has little to do with helping young people. I quote a local councillor “we hope that 50 per cent of the additional revenues raised will go to help young people with housing.”

“Hope?” - “50 per cent?” Why not guarantee and 100 per cent?

The answer of course is that the council wants to raise additional funds for a variety of purposes. The snag is that if they increased taxation, people might hit back by voting against them at the next council elections. The answer is simple - tax people who can be taxed, but who can’t vote against them - can’t vote at all, in fact.

Not many people fall into this category, so make the most of the ones who do - us. To be on the safe side, blacken us in the opinion of local people by saying that we are depriving young people of homes (in many cases absolutely not so).

If this is not illegal, it certainly should be. It is certainly immoral.

One final thought - if people like us didn’t bring large numbers to Tenby and Saundersfoot by letting our flats for large parts of the year, how many thriving restaurants, pubs and bars would there be? How many local tradesmen would not get round to sending a quote for work “Because we are very busy”?

Councillors are probably not aware of how much ill-feeling they are generating in people who are a fundamental part of the area’s tourism - worth a vast amount of money to Pembrokeshire at the moment. This, of course, could change. If it does, it will take a long time to get it back.

Ken Newman,

Halesowen,

West Midlands.