As Wiltshire Council sets its budget for the forthcoming year I hope the opposition councillors unite against the Conservatives to prevent deterioration in services.

It is clear that lack of funding is leading to standards falling, not least in those services which do not attract the most headlines, and in some cases the promised protection for the elderly and vulnerable will not happen.

Perhaps the time has come for all options to increase funding to be considered by councillors including a rise in council tax and a protest to central government, perhaps jointly with other local authorities, that at a time of rising demand many important services in the county cannot be provided properly without an increase in grant to do duties required by law.

C N A Williams (Mr), Clipsham Rise, Trowbridge.