A MASSIVE increase in the council tax demand being faced by people in Ludlow has been described as ‘crippling'.

Vivienne Parry who sits on both Ludlow Town Council and Shropshire District Council says people already finding it hard to make ends meet will be hit very badly by a hike in council tax.

She is especially critical of a move by Ludlow Town Council to raise its precept by nearly 25 per cent.

Vivienne Parry says that many people mistakenly believe that the increase is in order to pay for services being taken over from Shropshire Council but this is not the case.

According to Vivienne Parry, the increase will help to pay for a new role of deputy town clerk paying a salary of £30,000 a year and for major repairs to The Guildhall.

“When the Shropshire Council increase is included it will mean people in a Band D property having to nearly another £100 a year,” said Vivienne Parry.

“This is crippling and totally unacceptable. People are already really struggling and this is a huge increase.

“Where they can, people will pay for improved services but creating a position of deputy clerk at £30,000 a year is completely unacceptable.

“There is also work to repair the roof and windows at The Guildhall. When the town council took over the Guildhall from the Department of Justice it should have made sure that the building was in a sound condition.”

Vivienne Parry also believes that the large increase is being made in order not to get caught in any future cap. At present town and parish councils are exempt from the two per cent a year cap on council tax increases that apply to district, county and unitary councils.

But Ludlow Town Council has defended the increase in a statement issued by town clerk Gina Wilding.

"The town council’s vision for Ludlow is a successful, vibrant, attractive town, where people want to live, work, and visit," she said.

She listed the activities undertaken by the town council.

"The town council’s annual budget pays for delivery of local services. The town council has recently opened Ludlow Museum at the Buttercross.

"Other local services include burial services and maintenance at Henley Road Cemetery, maintenance of recreation grounds at the Linney Riverside Park, Wheeler Road skate park and play area, Houseman Crescent play area, St John’s Gardens, Ludlow market, civic events including Remembrance Sunday, mayor making and Mayor’s Sunday, Ludlow calendar of events, public meetings, community grants to local organisations, bus shelters, benches, public toilets, market street lights, street trading, local consultee on planning applications, allotments, Ludlow Mayfair, Ludlow town plan, town centre banners, town centre CCTV, Christmas lights and switch-on event and seniors' Christmas party."

Ludlow Town Council has set an expenditure budget of £812,007.00 for the 2107/18 financial year.

This is offset by income of £320,707.00 and reserves of £41,280.00, totalling £361,987.00

The budget requires a council tax precept of £450,020.00, which is divided by a council tax base of 3379.80 in Ludlow.

This means that the average annual amount payable for a band D property in Ludlow increase by £26.08 from £107.06 to £133.14 per annum.