AFTER we published details of Somerset Council’s proposed 11% increase in council tax for the 2026/27 financial year, as you would imagine, we received a number of letters from readers.
We welcome such responses, of course, and have published the letters below – as we can only accept them in good faith.
That said, one thing you will notice as you read through them is that they all start with exactly the same seven words – “Regarding the proposed 11% council tax increase…”.
Five letters published below – all making worthy points, of course, but all starting with the exact same intro.
READ MORE: Decision over proposed 11% increase in Somerset council tax delayed
Here they are:
REGARDING the proposed 11% council tax increase, the argument that Somerset has one of the lowest levels of council tax feels flawed.
We also have some of the lowest average wages, so why should our council tax be comparable to far wealthier areas. That comparison ignores the reality of what people here actually earn and can afford.
There are also serious questions that are never properly explained. Why are there such high numbers of SEND children, and is that being examined in detail.
Spending on adult social care is said to be extremely high, but how is that figure broken down? How much relates to elderly people, and how much to adults who cannot care for themselves?
Instead of simply squeezing residents for more money, these issues should be properly scrutinised and improved.
Yours faithfully
KAREN TELLING
Somerset
REGARDING the proposed 11% council tax increase, I live in a Band A property and am on a low income.
I am already struggling to make ends meet, paying nearly £150 a month while trying to cover food and other essential bills.
An increase of this size would put even more pressure on people like me who are already stretched, and it feels deeply unfair to ask those on the lowest incomes to shoulder this burden.
At the same time, residents see little benefit from these rising costs. Our roads are full of potholes, and money does not appear to be going back into basic services.
Instead, funds have been spent on projects such as Celebration Mile, while the town centre continues to suffer.
I believe Somerset Council should look at lower council tax rates or greater support for low income households and pensioners, rather than pushing through increases that many simply cannot afford.
Yours faithfully
MISS T L LAY
REGARDING the proposed 11% council tax increase, my family is already struggling significantly.
I work full time, but my partner is unable to work due to serious health issues.
Our rent has recently risen to £1,200 a month, we do not qualify for any council tax support, and even the smallest increase would risk tipping us over the edge financially.
What makes this even harder to accept is the clear deterioration in local services over the eight years we have lived here. Potholes are everywhere, roads and drains are dirty and blocked, litter is often left behind after bin collections, and we rarely see police officers or PCSOs.
Bridgwater increasingly looks neglected, yet residents are being asked to pay more to cover council mismanagement rather than seeing improvements on the ground.
VIA EMAIL
REGARDING the proposed 11% council tax increase, we live on a country lane by choice and accept that this means no street lighting and very little police presence.
What is harder to accept is the rising cost of basic services, particularly the green bin collection, which I have used since it was introduced but will no longer be subscribing to because of the price.
The condition of the main road is abysmal, with overgrown hedges and litter that has been left for years.
For people living in rural areas, it increasingly feels like we are paying more while receiving less in return, and that sense of being taken for granted is growing stronger with every proposed increase.
Kind regards
LYNDA TAYLOR
REGARDING the proposed 11% council tax increase, I am writing as a working parent who is experiencing increasing financial pressure due to the continued rise in living costs, particularly food and household bills.
I have also been forced to reduce my working hours because of the lack of adequate support available for neurodiverse children.
As a result, my household is already relying on credit cards to cover basic living expenses, and any further increase in council-related costs would place us under even greater financial strain.
In addition, I am deeply concerned about how council funds are being allocated. Despite paying council tax, road tax, MOTs, and other associated charges, the condition of local roads is dire. Essential maintenance and repairs appear to be cut back rather than prioritised, leading to worsening infrastructure that directly affects residents safety and daily lives.
It is increasingly difficult to understand how additional financial burdens on residents can be justified when core services and essential infrastructure continue to decline.
I urge the council to reconsider spending priorities and to take into account the real financial pressures facing working families, particularly those with caring responsibilities.
KIRSTY
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