COUNCIL tax will soar by 63% in Coleford after town leaders ramped up the amount it wants from residents.

Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper has criticised the increase in Coleford Town Council's precept, which will rise by almost £100,000.

Previously, it demanded £156,155 from households, but said it now needs £255,350. Per household, that means a £34.73 rise, from £54.33 this year to £88.66 next, for an average Band D home.

Mr Harper said: "I am shocked and extremely disappointed by Coleford Town Council's move to increase the council tax precept by 63 per cent. This is absolutely unacceptable at a time when everyone else is trying their best to live within their means. This is particularly disappointing given that most of the increase will be used to bolster council reserves, and not spent on services for the people of Coleford. It shows a complete lack of understanding of the impact such an increase will have on Coleford residents. This is in complete contrast to Gloucestershire Police Authority, which decided to freeze its council tax precept, aware of the difficult circumstances facing many people in our county."

Town mayor Sue Merrikin said the authority was being made to "look like the bad boys" because it's having to take up services previously provided by Forest of Dean District Council.

All town councils in the district have had to find an extra £15,000 to take on CCTV systems. And Mrs Merrikin said it also wanted to keep helping good causes like the Citizens Advice Bureau. She said: "Coleford Town Council fears that even more vital services could be pushed onto them as the district and county councils make further cuts. The council had to increase the precept by £15,000 to cover the cost of taking on CCTV cameras from the district council, which decided that it no longer wished to offer this valuable service to the towns. Although it is likely to be controversial, Coleford Town Council feels that after years of 2.5 per cent increases Coleford is only moving in line with most others.

"Councillors recognised that the increase in percentage terms looks high, but feel that it is a realistic precept for Coleford, recognising that Lydney Town Council precept for £405,765, Cinderford £175,000 and Newent at £175,930 respectively.

"The consequence of the district council's zero increase is that we will look like the bad boys, while it keeps the precept down artificially by bringing in charges for car parking and green waste collections by the back door."

The hike means Coleford will no longer be the cheapest Forest town.

Cinderford's precept has been frozen, meaning a £66.88 bill for Band D homes. In Lydney, it will go from £135.20 per Band D home to £140.50, a 3.9 per cent rise.