RESIDENTS in Winsford face a hike of almost 20 per cent in their council tax this year.

Winsford Town Council unanimously approved their draft budget for 2019/20 following a discussion at a meeting last night.

The proposed precept of £491, 837 could see council tax for Band D properties going up by 19.89 per cent from £48.86 to £57, an increase of £8.14 per year or 15.6p a week.

The final figures will be ratified at a council meeting next month.

Councillors said the rise was necessary to fund two flagship projects, the Brunner Guildhall and the Town Park plus the May election.

Without these additional costs, the rise would be 2.7 per cent.

The town's landmark Brunner Guildhall is to be renovated and brought back into use.

A sum of £50,000 has been set aside to match fund grants the council hopes to secure to bring the Grade II listed building back into use.

The provision of services on recreation grounds and services has increased from £10,000 to £25,500 as the Town Council takes over the full running costs of the Town Park in January 2020.

Cllr Mike Kennedy, chairman of Winsford Town Council's finance committee, said: "We held a major public consultation over the Brunner Guildhall. Members of the public want us to renovate, restore and put this building back to community use.

"We as a town council are working towards that.

"We plan to apply for several grants from the Architectural Heritage Fund and Heritage Lottery Fund. We need to set aside sufficient money to be able to match fund bids."

The response to feedback from the public has been described as 'phenomenal' by the council and consultation continues until May.

"In January 2020 we take over the management and maintenance of the Town Park," said Cllr Kennedy. "We need to budget for the first three months of next year.

"Open spaces are starting to cost a bit more each year and we need to mitigate for this."

Plans to cut grants to organisations by £2,500 were shelved after the Labour Group's proposals to leave the sum of £25,000 the same as last year were accepted.

"Community groups are suffering as much as the town council and local authority," added Cllr Kennedy. "We felt that we must do as much as we can to support these community groups by keeping the grant bid the same as last year."

A contribution of £5,000 towards a junior youth worker is set to go up by £500 to £5,500 and the play leadership donation to rise by £400 to £4,400.

"Play leadership is to fund play schemes in August which give children something to do during the day in play, learning and designing," added Cllr Kennedy.

The rent on more than 50 allotments at Moss Bank in Over are set to rise by £10 but there will be no increase for the 10 smaller plots at Wharton.

A sum of £15,000 has been set aside to fund this year's local election.

Finance officer and town clerk Mark Bailey said: "As a Town Council we raise money via council tax to deliver our budget and we spend that money. We do not put money into reserves.

"As financial officer, I recognise that this is a risk but all town councillors want to take that risk because they put the people of Winsford first."