PARISHES around Trowbridge are to be asked to make a contribution towards sports sessions organised by its Active Trowbridge service.

Town councillors voted 17-3 at a recent full council meeting to ask local parishes surrounding Trowbridge to contribute to the cost of sessions.

Cllr Edward Kirk said that if schools inside and outside Trowbridge were levelled up it would the cost the council £113,000.

He added: "Trowbridge residents are already paying up to 92 per cent more in town/parish Council Tax than our neighbouring parishes.

"Therefore, I don’t think it can be considered fair or appropriate that Trowbridge Town Council continues to carry the full burden of Active Trowbridge operating at a substantial loss mainly in the schools of our neighbouring parishes."

The total net budget contribution to Active Trowbridge is £219,726 for 2020/21.

Cllr Kirk added: "Active Trowbridge currently not only operates in Schools within the Trowbridge Town Council boundary, but also within the boundary of neighbouring parishes.

"The cost to Trowbridge Town Council of employing the staff alone for this school activity for a period of only 15 weeks is £95,846 and the income generated is £70,760.

"Therefore, we are supporting schools with a direct subsidy of £25,086 for this period and a full school year would be about £66,000."

Town clerk Lance Allan said: "Councillors should note that all of the schools listed have a proportion of pupils in attendance who are resident in Trowbridge."

Cllr Chris Hoar questioned the attack on Active Trowbridge which he said was a positive step in helping to keep local children healthy.

He suggested Cllr Kirk is striving to bring the council's employees down to one or twol, adding: The council is a service, not a business."

But councillors approved a motion asking the council to write to neighbouring parishes and request a donation towards the service.