Recent letters to the Echo about cuts to certain services like toilets and subsidised bus services seem to be missing the big point.

Four out of the five National political parties (the odd ones out are the Greens who I don’t think have a deficit reduction policy) support the continued cuts in funding to local Councils.

These range from Labour, same cuts but over a longer period, to UKIP and the Tory Right, which support harder, faster cuts.

The Lib Dems sit in the middle ground with only Vince Cable breaking rank and questioning whether the current 90/10 balance between cuts and tax increases is the right one.

Unfortunately the cuts agenda will see its way well into the next Government, of whatever combination, as the election will likely be fought on the EU and immigration, and a short term fix for the NHS – all dressed up in simplistic language.

It is almost as if the headline issues are being driven by those with media support that wish to distract us from the things that really should matter.

The whittling away of public services, the rise in extremism of all types, the ignored crisis from climate change and over population worldwide, and the added pressure here in the UK of our older and more dependant population outnumbering those of working age and paying taxes, are the issues that need to be on the table.

Getting out of the EU saves only a marginal amount and threatens further austerity, and stopping immigration would make the last of the four points above more difficult to deal with.

We really need to deal with the cuts agenda, as even if the Council closed all the remaining toilets, scrapped all remaining subsidised bus services, removed subsidies to the BSO and Lighthouse, closed libraries, abolished the Chief Executive position, and scrapped Councillor allowances (the latter two being favourites of the trolls who believe they have the answers), you would barely cover the savings to meet a single year’s pressure – and there are another two to five of them to go.

Whilst most Councillors will continue to fight their corner to protect services in their community, the pressure from yet more years of cuts imposed by Government will impact on what we currently feel are basic services.

Rather than focus on the middle men and women, who are not the originators of the cuts agenda, focus on those that seek to run the country and demand that they spell out how they can avoid or reduce further cuts.

If the answer sounds painless it’s probably not an honest one!

Tony Trent,

Fraser Road,

Poole