Residents facing the biggest hike – the full 3.5 per cent – are likely to be in Bridgnorth under Shropshire Council plans to equalise tax demands countywide from 2012. But in Oswestry and south Shropshire there will be no rise.

Final decisions will not be made until early next year but under draft budget proposals revealed yesterday, the bill for the average Band D property in Bridgnorth will rise by £39.39 for the year, bringing the Shirehall part of the overall demand to just over £1,164.

Householders in Shrewsbury and Atcham face a 1.29 per cent (£14.88) increase while in north Shropshire it will be 0.7 per cent (£8.26).

There will still be levies from town and parish councils as well as the police and fire authorities.

Mr Dodson said the association wanted to see a zero increase next year, and the following year. “We still don’t see the logic behind its equalisation policy,” he said.

The association is planning is raise its concerns during a meeting with council leader Keith Barrow on November 2.

Labour opposition leader Alan Mosley said his group will be going through budget proposals “very carefully” to help ensure that “essential and highly valued” services such as Meals on Wheels are safeguarded.

The council is looking to make savings of £7.1 million to fulfil its tax promise but also to help it start preparing for a Government funding squeeze. The Meals on Wheels service is being restructured.

A review of day care provision is expected to result in savings of £180,000 and the council is looking to increase income at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury by £263,000.

Nigel Hartin, Liberal Democrat opposition leader, said: “As in many things the devil is in the detail and my group will be looking hard at the administration’s savings proposals over the next few weeks.”

By Dave Morris