Cutting out the council middle man

SIR, – The impending rate rises for north-east businesses look set to cause real damage to our local economy. The Scottish Government needs to be realistic about the true long-term cost of hitting beleaguered businesses with more taxes.

Local businesses owners should also point at Aberdeen City Council for their lack of effectiveness representing the city at government level. There is not a week goes by without some Labour or Tory councillor “slamming”, “demanding” or “blasting” the government.

The council has previously blamed the government for banning sandwiches in schools, delaying the Diamond Bridge and corrupting young minds towards independence by showing a video of Alex Salmond at a pantomime. All very petty, and unproductive.

No surprise then, that when businesses really need local government to do something constructive, there are very few open doors left to them at Holyrood. Aberdeen City Council have cried wolf too many times to be taken seriously.

The best advice was given by the council themselves, and that was for businesses to deal direct with the Scottish Government to get a result. The council have admitted, they can be of little help on this issue. Come May, let's hope we get a more effective bunch in the Town House, above. S Graham, Fernielea Crescent, Aberdeen