Cash-strapped pensioners in Colchester have persuaded EU chiefs to look into claims they are being crippled by spiralling council tax hikes.
Flashback - Tony Constable with the 50,000-signature petition he collected last year Picture: TERRY WEEDEN
More than 5,400 pensioners in the town signed petitions last year accusing councils of gross maladministration after a massive 16 per cent rates rise
Local government watchdogs ruled against the protesters.
But now Brussels Eurocrats have agreed to look into the Colchester campaigners' claims that UK pensioners are the "most shabbily treated in Europe".
Campaign leader Tony Constable said: "This is a major breakthrough. It's going to throw the whole subject wide open again and this time the Government will have to listen."
Pensioners were furious that tiny pension increases were being swallowed up by huge tax rises.
Mr Constable, of Margaret Road, hopes Euro MPs will now force councils to rein in spending to peg back rate hikes.
Published Thursday June 17, 2004
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