MADAM, Further to Peter Martins letter last week, I to wrote the Gazette over four months ago concerning the 100% council tax charge on empty properties in Herefordshire. Like Mr Martin, as yet I have received no answers to justify charging for non use of services. I have, however, spoken with the council tax department at Hereford, they assure me there are no exceptions to this charge, even if the property is uninhabitable. Not only does this affect landlords, relatives of deceased persons, places undergoing major works and people who have to leave a property empty due to a move, but also properties damaged by fire or flood or countless other reasons. It would appear that as well as the trauma involved, you will have the pleasure of paying the council 100% tax while building works progress. Maybe one person could camp on the site and thus claim a paltry 25% reduction! Does anyone from Ross Council (as they along with others presumably voted for this) have the courage to put their head above the parapet and justify this appalling money generating scheme? I voted for some of you (Ross Councillors) at the last local elections, it would appear I would have been better off voting for the likes of Dick Turpin. Chris Constable, Ross