The latest edition of Redbridge Council’s free paper was produced at a loss of almost £10,000 to taxpayers.

Redbridge Life is published four times a year and delivered to 104,000 homes and businesses in the borough.

It is produced by the council and provides information on council services.

A Freedom of Information Request submitted to the council reveals that the Spring 2013 edition cost £14,546 to produce.

The council made back £4,860 in advertising income from the edition, leaving it with a loss of £9,686 on the paper.

Matt Keen, 39, of New Wanstead, submitted the FOI after receiving his copy.

He said: “I’m very surprised that this thing is still coming out if it’s being produced at a loss.

“At a time when the council is looking to make savings, shouldn’t something like this be the first thing for the chop?

“It’s just a magazine to tell everyone how great Redbridge Council is produced using taxpayers’ money.

“Half the borough probably just chucks the thing away anyway which creates recycling and disposal costs.

“I took part in the council’s online survey about where savings should be made. I think they should start by ditching this thing.”

The council says that an independent survey revealed that 65 per cent of residents said they read Redbridge Life and more than a third said it was their main source of information about the Borough.

John Sharrock, 77 of Fremantle Road in Barkingside, is part of community group Barkingside 21 which blogs on local issues.

He said of Redbridge Life: “I know of people who do read it and like it.

“A lot of community organisations also get good publicity in it so it does have its uses.

“But really it is a propaganda sheet not a newspaper and much of the content is not so much objective as objectionable.

“I also wonder about the advertising revenue. A lot of the ads in it are for council services. Are they paying themselves from one pocket to another?”

Redbridge Council has been asked to comment.