A petition gathered by one woman in Shifnal was largely responsible for more than doubling the town’s contribution to residents’ council tax bills, it was claimed today.

Shifnal Town Council clerk Peter Hurlstone alleged Dawn Bithell’s petition sparked a chain of events which forced the authority to increase its precept for the year by 105.1 per cent. Mrs Bithell today denied the rise was down to her.

It comes after Mrs Bithell gathered a petition signed by more than 1,000 people opposed to plans to demolish Shifnal’s crumbling magistrates court.

Mr Hurlstone claimed the petition helped persuade Bridgnorth District Council planners to refuse an application by the town council to bulldoze the building to make way for housing.

He said that the town council had to call in structural engineers as a result to check on the condition of the old courthouse and they had reported it would take £210,000 to make it safe.

Mr Hurlstone said that money had to be built into this year’s budget which resulted in the town council’s precept rising from £159,415 last year to £327,000 this year.

Mr Hurlstone said that represented a precept on an average Band D property of £141.80, whereas it was £70 in 2007/2008. He said: “Dawn Bithell was responsible for the petition and the petition made a significant difference, according to planning officers at Bridgnorth District Council.”

But Mrs Bithell said: “I am not responsible for putting up the precept for the people of Shifnal. I can’t be because that is down to the council.”

Meanwhile, at a full meeting of the town council last night, councillors claimed a decision taken by members last month to approve a plan to bulldoze the court and build homes on the site was illegal.

Councillor Eileen Briscoe, in person, and Councillor Adam Teecey, in a letter to members, said the plan had not been on the agenda for the meeting and they are now considering reporting the town council to the standards office.