IT was always going to the case that the reality of the Government's public sector squeeze would only really hit home when local councils began to reveal details of the cuts they are being forced to make.

Darlington Borough Council led the way today by announcing that 400 jobs are to go, with the Civic Theatre and the Arts Centre in line to close unless alternative funding can be found quickly.

There is a very long list of other repercussions for the great town which is Darlington: bus subsidies withdrawn, blowing greens lost, library services reduced, fewer floral displays, the grass cut less frequently, less spent on street cleaning, and plenty more to come.

As someone who loves living and working in Darlington, I find it very sad because these are all things that add up to making the town so appealing.

It is all necessary? Well, it depends which political party you choose to believe. The coalition insists that the cuts have to go this deep in order to put Britain's finances back in order. The Labour Party claims that there could have been a more considered approach.

That will now be the key debate in the local elections in May, with the Tories fancying their chances of taking control of the council.

Whoever people ultimately blame for Darlington's culture shock, the reality is that the town isn't going to be the same for a long time to come.