Tax protest pensioner has his day in court

The 83-year-old walked into a courtroom for the first time in his life last Friday after withholding his council tax payments in protest at 'appalling' services.

The law-abiding Fontwell Avenue resident stopped paying his 144 monthly bills in July after badgering unsuccessfully for a year to get services improved.

He is particularly disappointed at the standard of municipal grass cutting and the pavements in his area of Little Common.

Mr Paisley and wife Anne were the only people to attend court last Friday from 170 summonses.

He told the court: "It's a lot of money to be shelling out every month on such an inferior return. I've been cutting council grass verges for the last 14 years, perhaps I should be presenting them with a bill.

"Council tax has doubled in the last eight years but services have slipped. Where has the extra money gone? What are we paying for?"

He said withholding the tax was the last course of action available to him after pestering local councillors and staff to get the situation improved.

He also had meetings with MP Greg Barker and council officers but says the work is still below standard.

Mr Paisley added: "The situation is simple. I'm withholding my payment until the council sticks to its part of the bargain and I'm doing it for the sake of everyone who is incensed by increasing taxes and poor services. I really thought something would be done when I met those people but alas nothing changed."

The work Mr Paisley refers to is the responsibility of East Sussex County Council but the court summons was issued on behalf of Rother District Council, which is responsible for tax collection.

The magistrates said they had no choice but to issue Rother District Council a liability order to collect the tax through bailiffs because it is a statutory debt. However, they dismissed the council's application for 35 costs because Mr Paisley had sent two letters to Rother that were not responded to.

After the hearing Mr Paisley said he was still willing to withhold the debt in protest but had been persuaded by his concerned wife to pay.

He added: "I've think I've taken my point as far as I can. I know under law I'm going to have to pay and at our age we can't have bailiffs knocking on the door."

Mrs Paisley said: "We will pay this tax but under great protest... solely to prevent any further intrusion into our home and family life."