Journal reader Ruth Funnell from Great Torrington writes:

The proposal to cut day care is a tragedy for carers and those who attended these centres. It is likely to cost public money rather than save it as carers’ health suffers and those cared for have to move earlier to residential care.

By next year Devon County Council will have endured cuts of 60% in the budget since the coalition came to power. North Devon District Council will have seen its budget cut by a third.

This level of cuts threatens services we have enjoyed since the end of the Second World War and before, even though Britain is far richer than in 1945: youth services, libraries, day care for the disabled and those with dementia, libraries, the fire service, and road repairs among others.

These cuts actually cost money. It is resulting in the loss of around 5,000 jobs in the county – 5,000 people who will not be paying taxes and national insurance and may have to claim benefits.

The bedroom tax means people move, often to smaller homes in the private sector that have higher rents. A high percentage of those affected are disabled and have to leave specially adapted homes.

Unrepaired roads mean the council has to pay money in damages to people whose cars hit the potholes.

The coalition’s cuts are not inevitable. There is an alternative to austerity. The Tobin tax, supported by the European Commission but opposed by the coalition is a tax of a tiny 0.5% on all share, bond and currency transactions.

It is already raising money in Hong Kong, Mumbai, and Johannesburg. Restoring the 50% rate of income tax on earnings over £150,000 would also raise a significant sum and don’t believe the siren voices of the very rich who claim it wouldn’t.

A small increase in council tax, costing each residents £5 a year, could raise enough to save the day centres except that the Government would then cut the grant even more.

Would you rather have a small increase and save the day centres? It should be the choice of people in Devon not central government. We need a return to real local democracy.