I am a first-time mother, both myself and my partner work and we are really noticing the increasing cost of living in things like food and petrol.

We don't have a huge disposable income, probably around £600 per month. We own a leasehold flat where the block had undergone regeneration work. We have to pay £2000 back and the only thing the council will do is allow us to pay it over 10 months.

The money was for improvements, which included £900 towards the scaffolding, and the rest for changing windows in a communal area and changing a few roof tiles.

If I had found a contractor myself I would certainly not have agreed to pay nearly £9,000 for scaffolding on a three storey block of flats (£900 each for nine flats)

There is no negotation, they threaten to start legal proceedings if we can't pay, which will result in us losing the leasehold.

So our income is reduced to £400 per month for three people. I have re-negotiated terms on a loan and other debts yet the council are a nasty organisation to deal with and do not care.

We are prepared to pay it back but ideally over longer terms. I'm sure there are people in this city who owe more in rent or council tax who aren't being hounded.
Lorna Fearn, Hamilton Road, Sheffield 5

SHEFFIELD CAB Debt Support Unit is pleased that The Star is continuing to highlight this serious problem; however we were concerned about the emphasis placed on the Barnsley based 'UK Consumer Debtline' as a source of independent advice.

This is one of many flourishing in the current climate, and although its services appear to be free to the customer, they are paid commission by IVA and Debt Management companies and can never be independent or impartial. We would urge those suffering from debt and financial problems to seek truly free and independent advice from a debt specialist at their local advice agency.
Alexa Walker, Debt Advice Consultant, Sheffield CAB Debt Support Unit

DEBT is escalating with rising food prices, the credit crunch, the loss of the 10p tax band and house repossessions.

Yet the Government's Financial Inclusion Fund (FIF) for the period 2008-11 has been reduced by £14 million, leaving fewer people with access to the financial advice they need to avoid falling into debt.

In the UK, face-to-face debt advice is spread among 10 Citizens Advice centres and six independent advice projects. The cuts in support means that every FIF project will have to find savings of nearly 20 per year and 60 debt advisers will be lost, just when they are most needed

Sheffield has some of the poorest wards in the UK and is ranked as the 60th most deprived local authority area in England. I have written to the Treasury about my concerns but have so far received no reply.

These cuts must be halted and funding put in place to make sure that everybody has access to independent debt advice.
Green Party Councillor Bernard Little