COUNCIL tax payers in Chorley face a 5.4 per cent rise this year after the borough council abandoned plans to hike up their portion of the bills by almost ten per cent.

The council had proposed a 9.9 per cent increase and slashing opening hours at historic Astley Hall.

But after a two month consultation, during which members of the public protested about their plans, the council backed down at a meeting last week.

The increase means the average band D homeowner will fork out £1,233 -- up from last year's £1,170.

Councillors agreed to keep Astley Hall open on Sundays and said that 30 planned redundancies will be voluntary rather than compulsory. Council staff will also retain their free parking permits.

They agreed to increase their portion of the tax by 7.9 per cent, and with the 3.5 per cent rise from Lancashire County Council and extra charges from police and fire precepts, the overall increase to council tax in Chorley is 5.4 per cent. Council leader Jack Wilson said: "It was a genuine consultation period that started in January. We put forward our proposals, listened to what members of the public had to say and amended our proposals -- and I think that is the point of democracy.

"The headline figure is 5.4 per cent, which is well below average when compared to other authorities."

The council's Conservative leader, Coun Peter Goldsworthy, said the rise was "outrageous".

"Our alternative budget proposed no increase at all in council tax. Opening Astley Hall on Sundays is a step in the right direction, but our plans were to retain the present opening hours.

"It is disturbing that the leading coalition wants to make it difficult for people to visit what is Chorley's 'jewel in the crown'.

"We believe the council is top heavy, and our cuts would have come from streamlining.

"We proposed to cut the number of senior management posts by 12. We were simply not prepared to cut front line services."