Shrewsbury residents say they will accept a steep council tax rise - but demand visible results
Shrewsbury residents say they’ll stomach a steep council tax rise - as long as services in the town improve and spending is handled responsibly.
It was this week revealed that Shropshire Council was one of seven councils that had been granted permission to increase their council tax by more than the core limit 4.99 per cent without a referendum.
Of those Shropshire, Worcestershire and North Somerset councils were given permission to raise their share by a maximum of nine per cent.
For a band B council taxpayer in Shrewsbury, where the town council precept is set to almost double in April, the annual bill could rise from £1,472 last year to around £1,665 for 2026/27 - and that's before the precepts for police and the fire service.
It's a hike that Shrewsbury residents we spoke to seem willing to make - as long as they feel the benefits.
"It's obviously disappointing for a lot of people while they're struggling at the moment - and I think it's too much money really - but things have to be paid, for don't they?" said Liz Williams, 65.
"How it is spent is a concern; I'd just like to see it be prioritised properly."
Carolyn, a 54-year-old Shrewsbury resident, agreed: "As long as they're using the money in the right way.
"Fortunately, it won't make that much of a difference to us, so while I think they've had enough, I'm happy to pay it if we see the effects."
For most of the people we spoke to, there was one thing in particular they hoped the council would spend the money on: fixing the county's roads.
"You don't get a lot for your money, do you? You only get your bins emptied every fortnight, you don't get your green bin collected at all and there are potholes all over the road," said 56-year-old Paul Davenport.
"The potholes are absolutely horrendous - that's the biggest thing for me. I wouldn't mind paying it if you were getting value for money."
Colin Thaw, 62, said: "I think it was inevitable. Obviously, I don't want to pay more for what I consider to be a non-service.
"If you're healthy and you work, then you don't really get anything other than your bins taken away. But I understand there is a social responsibility to help those who are in need.
"But that has to be balanced out with proper management of funds and sensible decisions. I think we've seen a number of decisions that have been questionable over the years.
"The idea that someone is going to ask for an above-inflation rise for something that is not going to improve in quality obviously goes against the grain."
Gary Harper, 62, was a little happier with the bang he was getting for his buck, though he admitted the change would force him to find savings elsewhere.
"It's quite a lot, I think I already pay over £300 a month so it could affect us quite a bit - but as long as the money is well spent then I'm all for paying tax," he said.
"[Shropshire Council] seem to do a reasonable job. The streets are fairly clean and that sort of thing."
Martin Wallace, 68, said he believed the increase was a necessary evil in order to address some of the town's issues.
He said: "If you look around the town, there are lots of things that need to be addressed. If you're going to address them you've got to spend more money. If you need to spend it, you've got to raise it.
"[The increase] won't impact me and my wife as much as others, like the kids and the grandkids - but that's a fact of life really, isn't it?
"There's got to be a balance between what we want and what we can raise."
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