Reading The Argus last Thursday, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

There was a report about Brighton and Hove City Council's 7.7 per cent increase in council tax, accompanied by cuts in services, and a piece on the lack of funds to reinstate the West Pier.

On another page, there was a story about £48 million of EU grants to agricultural landowners.

Sussex landowners have never struck me as a needy group of people, but they should not be blamed if the EU chooses to shower them with taxpayers' money.

When, however, the Chancellor is reduced to devising ever more stealth taxes, why doesn't he think about the alternatives?

Gordon Brown ought to know that our present punitive taxes on honesty, thrift and work could be replaced by a tax on land values which would automatically claw back these EU handouts?

We might also ask why the money needs to make an expensive return journey to Brussels?

Henry Law

-Queen's Gardens, Brighton