HAVING lived and worked in Darlington all of my life, I have witnessed the seemingly endless increase in council tax and a concurrent reduction in the quality of service.

I have been silent as the iconic Civic Theatre has been threatened with closure and seen many of our thoroughfares become akin to the road to hell, but abolishing the free public firework display takes the proverbial biscuit.

I think it’s about time we had a change for the better.

Phillip Patterson, Darlington.