Braintree council’s leader announced last week that council taxes may have to rise.

This would not need to happen, of course, if Braintree Council had heeded the many warnings about the now failed ‘garden communities’ plan for thousands of new homes.

The council spent residents’ money with abandon on the project - and on defending appeals arising due to the lack of Local Plan.

The council was quite willing and able to find money whenever it was required for its unpopular vanity project.

It is extremely galling to hear that now there are insufficient funds for the council to do its job.

Residents are still waiting for an investigation and an apology for the mismanagement of our taxes.

Rosie Pearson

Pattiswick