WARMINSTER councillors have unanimously voted in favour of a significant rise in the town’s share of council tax , urging local people to join them in seeing the positive side of the move.

At a council meeting on Monday, an increase of 31.31 per cent, which amounts to an extra 58p per week or £30.32 a year for an average Band D household was approved, in order to allow the town council to compensate for services which have been devolved or discontinued by Wiltshire Council. The town council will now maintain nine play areas which Wiltshire Council has said they can no longer afford to run.

A band D property is considered average, with bands A to C paying proportionally less, and bands E to H paying proportionally more.

Mayor Cllr Rob Fryer who chaired the meeting, said: “I would like to remind the residents of Warminster to look at the real figures of this precept change, rather than the percentage increase which anyone would find alarming.

“Although there is a 32.31 per cent increase, that is only a very small proportion of their whole bill. Our precept is only six per cent of what each household pays in council tax, meaning a very small increase.”

The councillors unanimously voted in favour of the£31.31 per cent increase, and the new budget was set at £749,012.

Cllr Pip Ridout, chairman of the town council’s finance and assets committee, said: “I feel that this is the right decision, it allows us the opportunity to protect our play areas for the young people and to look at making provision to take on all the other services that could come over in future years.

“ I am encouraged by the enormous support and compliments the town council have had for the work we have already done in the park.

“This will enable us to do more for the town and make sure standards are improved.”

Cllr Ridout’s view was endorsed by Cllr Chris Robbins, vice chairman of the finance and assets committee.

He said: “I have liaised closely with Cllr Ridout and Cllr Brett, chairman of the Devolved Services and Assets Sub-Committee, and listened to the choices.

“I think it is very sensible to make financial provision for taking on some services next year and in the future. This course of action supports the Town Council’s Strategic Plan for 2016–2021.”