COUNCIL tax will rise more for properties in Horwich and Blackrod than those in the rest of the borough in April

The parish precept – the part of the bill which the borough's three town councils set – is set to rise by nearly eight per cent in Horwich and Blackrod.

But in Westhoughton, council tax is due to stay at a similar rate with a fall of eight pence for Band D properties.

Horwich Town Council leader Marie Brady explained that the extra money will be spent on maintenance and improvement of Green Lane Playing Fields.

She said: "The first step was to protect the field from vehicles being driven onto the fields which has caused substantial damage, and to provide a barrier to stop children running into Green Lane, a busy road with no traffic calming measures in place. The precept increase works out at £1.81 per year or three pence per week for a Band D property."

In Blackrod, the parish precept will rise by £1.37 for Band D properties to £35.55 in the next financial year.

Blackrod mayor John Price explained that several proposals were put forward by the town clerk and town councillors decided which one to adopt.

The increase will be spent on landscaping improvements in Black Horse Street and civic events, according to town clerk Stella Lowis.

She said: “Town council precepts are used in Blackrod to give as much back to the village that it can.

“This year we’ve asked for a small increase as we commit do doing projects in the village and the main part of the increase will be to improve the site where the old toilets were on Black Horse Street which includes new brickwork, groundwork, fencing and seating.

“It’s also used to cover increases in costs such as for the Remembrance Day services, Christmas tree lighting and the community bus used for the elderly on the day of the Scarecrow Festival.

“Blackrod has not increased its request for additional amounts for almost four years to date."

Horwich and Blackrod town councils were criticised by Labour at a Bolton Council meeting last week when the budget for the next financial year was set.

The Labour group's amendment to the budget called on the council to "disapprove" of the proposed increase in the two parished areas.

Responding to the comments, Cllr Brady said: "It is incredible the Labour Group were disapproving of this increase for a long-awaited safety improvement, one which they had not progressed in the years they were the lead group at HTC and should have been aware of the importance."

Council tax for non-parished areas in the borough of Bolton will rise by 3.05 per cent in April.