Bridgnorth taxpayers tell Shropshire Council boss 'we get poor value for money'

More than 50 residents gathered at a meeting at Bridgnorth Community Hall to raise concerns about highways, street lighting and a lack of investment in the town.

Shropshire Council's chief executive Clive Wright defended the authority saying it faced growing financial pressures year on year.

The meeting was organised by Kate Dixon, a resident of Bridgnorth and a former town councillor.

Last week, Shropshire Council voted in favour of a 5.99 per cent hike in council tax.

The rise – which follows last year's 3.99 per cent increase – is an attempt to help the authority cope with pressure on its adult social care and children's social services budget.

Mr Wright told the meeting in Bridgnorth on Monday evening that the authority was under financial strain due to government cutbacks and over the past five years staff levels had been cut in half.

But residents argued that the impact on services in Bridgnorth had been far greater than in other parts of the county.

Ms Dixon told the meeting: "We feel that in comparison to other parts of Shropshire we are not getting value for money for our council tax."

She claimed that during the last period of heavy snow the town had been neglected, but roads in rural parts of Shrewsbury were cleared within a matter of hours.

It comes as another weather warning was issued for snow in Shropshire this week.

Mr Wright said it was the council's policy to clear a primary network of roads and pavements are not gritted.

The meeting was also told that Shrewsbury Town Council provides assistance with gritting steps and bridges.

The issue of street lights not working was also raised, with residents saying they make repeated reports but see no action being taken.

Mr Wright said the council did not have the resources to regularly check all street lighting and relied largely on the public to report those not working.

Other issues raised included the poor standard of some of the roads around the town, in particular those plagued by potholes.

Mr Wright said he was not happy or satisfied if potholes were not being seen to properly, but added that Kier would be taking over the contract to provide highways services across Shropshire from April 1.

Commenting on the growing financial pressures facing the council, Mr Wright told residents: "It doesn't mean we are not interested in the issues you have got. "There is not enough money to do all the things we would like to do."