Where is our tax money going?

Sir, I recently spoke to an elderly gentleman who has been coming to the town for more than 38 years.

He said in the past couple of years he has noticed a vast change in the appearance of Campbeltown and its surrounding areas.

He was shocked at empty shops, pavement and roadside weeds, rubbish flung into the water and in the beautiful countryside.

He could not believe the state of the roads.

Round the Learside, for example, big trenches have been dug at both sides of the road for water drainage.

He said this is dangerous as drivers dodge potholes and may end up down a vast hole.

It’s not acceptable, safe or cost-efficient as no sooner are they filled than they reappear.

He wondered what was happening to the road tax paid as it doesn’t seem to be used in Campbeltown.

His family are buried in Kilkerran cemetery.

He could not look about while walking round the cemetery as he constantly had to watch the surface to avoid holes.

He fears for the elderly who walk round the cemetery as he knows an old man who fell in a hole which was filled with water as he thought it was just a puddle.

He could not believe the amount of graves which have sunk and felt sorry for people whose loved ones are buried and visit to leave flowers.

And he again asked me: ‘Where is the money going?

‘The cemetery charges, as it should, for a burial so should this money not be kept for that cemetery, receiving money also from the council?’

I agreed but could not answer his question.

He said: ‘Inveraray and Lochgilphead look tidy and clean, inviting visitors.

‘However, once past and heading to Campbeltown, the standards have slipped considerably.

‘Someone needs to be accountable. We need to stand up and say “No more”, we want this town back to the beautiful way it was before.’

I wonder how many more visitors feel like this gentleman?

A very concerned resident,

Name and address supplied.