DO I live in a parallel universe to letter writers complaining about the council tax in Halton, asking people to vote for the opposition?

Halton has the 15th lowest council tax in the country, on average £200 below Lib Dem run councils.

At this year's council meeting the Lib Dems praised the Labour administration for setting an excellent budget. The Tories didn't turn up.

Unemployment has fallen by 80 per cent since 1997; this shows the benefit of a Labour council working with a Labour Government.

We are very close to getting a second Mersey crossing. Does anybody believe this would be so if we didn't have a Labour council?

I for one do not have a short memory. I do not forget the dole queue under the Tories.

There is massive regeneration going on in Halton with the arts centre, sixth form college, Trident Park, Old Town, waterfronts, £120 million Castlefields regeneration and the list goes on. This is on a scale of development that other boroughs are envious of.

Education has improved year on year since unitary status. Social services has improved from 123rd to 11th best in the country, the greatest improvement by any council in Britain. There is major provision of activity programmes during school holidays, valued by my grandchildren.

Do not throw this away because you have a single-issue problem with the council. Remember the 18 years in the wilderness. I hope, like me, you will stick with a council that has faults but, in the main, does a good job.

Mr E Owen, Derby Road, Widnes