A COUNCILLOR has bemoaned society's attitude towards tax, describing it as 'a good thing'.

Horwich councillor Kevin McKeon made the statement after complaints about the state of the drains and greenery in parts of the town.

Speaking at a recent town council meeting, the Labour man said this was a result of the cut in funding from the Government to local authorities.

He said: "The budget of the council has been cut dramatically and in order to maintain spending on children and vulnerable adults, the areas that are most cut are environmental.

"As a society we are not prepared to pay sufficient tax to enable the full range of public services that we probably need.

"Since Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan we have been led to believe that tax is a bad thing.

"But tax is a good thing. It is what we pay for for a civilised society. Until people are prepared to pay the funds, we will not get the public services we deserve."