After reading your leading article on 28 July it struck me that the main reason for the perennial drop in Guernsey living standards is our continually higher rate of inflation. It’s also apparent that one of the main causes is our own States.
Whether it is the recent inflation-busting water and electric charges or the rates and TRP increases or all the hidden charges they use to bolster their income it is causing more and more strain on everybody’s purse.
I am sure there are many other examples of hidden charge increases but I am involved in the building trade and will list a few recent ones.
Tipping fees over the last 10 to 20 years.
A one ton bag of general waste costs £75 now but was £60 two years ago. 25% increase.
A bulk collection of one mattress is £61, it used to be £15 for items. How many 100s of % is that?
New regulations on contaminated ground, sneaked in just before Christmas. It cost somebody £80,000 to dig and dispose of their garden because of this. The regulation is totally uncalled for.
When will these politicians realise that our income is not a bottomless pit to keep raiding and ultimately preventing any growth in our productivity and ability to pay for the services we all should want.
John Hatton
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