John Roadknight, of Buckwell Road, Kingsbridge, writes:

It really is an extremely sad reflection of our times when such a dedicated and respected volunteer as Anji Chant declares her concerns over the future of our youth services, and both Brenda Gilchrist and Marian Dowswell write in to express their dismay at the proposed closure of Tumbly Hill Day Centre.

It very much looks as though Devon County Council is going to try to put more onus on David Cameron's Big Society voluntary sector to fill the void that is fast becoming his Big 'Cheapskate' Society.

Presumably hard-working volunteers, such as Anji Chant, are now expected to rattle even more tins outside our supermarkets to fund these services, in addition to all the free time they already devote.

Having for many years run attendees to and from the South Hams Hospital day centre and latterly to Tumbly Hill, when I was a volunteer hospital car driver, and prior to that helped out at Kingsbridge Youth Centre, when it was run by Colin Low, I have seen at first-hand how invaluable these services are to so many in our local community.

They deserve to be protected at all cost.

It appears to be Communities Secretary Eric Pickles' dogma to go into the next election boasting that council tax has only risen modestly under his tenure, even though only the basic minimum services are still being provided.

Perhaps instead of Cllr John Hart, of Devon County Council, continually complaining how difficult it is to run our services he should align himself with like-minded councillors like Sir Merrick Cockell, Conservative leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, and tell central government enough is enough.

The latter is firmly opposed to the recent announcement to scrap the Local Assistance Fund, which helps people in desperate need.

Another alternative for Cllr Hart is to start campaigning to increase the council tax on second home owners.

When most local people cannot afford their first helping of property, I don't think it is too much to ask fortunate people who can afford a second helping to donate more.

For the most part they are not contributing to the local economy when they are absent and should be made to pay more to compensate for this.

He could, of course, ask a certain footballer purported to shortly be earning in excess of £40,000 a day to subscribe to his hardship fund!

Having recently watched Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's Scandimania series, it is interesting to note that citizens of these countries do not mind paying higher taxes than us, as they receive excellent services in return which give them a good quality of life that makes them the happiest nations on our planet.

Perhaps we have got something to learn.