Ashford braced for serious Council Tax Hike

3.11.36pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 9th Feb 2005

Residents could soon find themselves out of pocket

New Liberal Democrat research has shown that Ashford is set for a post election Council Tax bombshell if Labour is returned to power.

Council Tax is currently based on property values in April 1991 but the government is updating its valuation figures to take account of changes in property prices since then.

Families in the Ashford area will be badly hit because average house price increases have been higher than national averages.

In Wales, where revaluation has already taken place, the rural areas have been most heavily penalized. Powys has seen more than 1,000 homes moving up three bands.

Commenting, local Liberal Democrat campaigner Chris Took said: "This is another example of Labour quietly announcing tax increases that will not impact on people until after voting is over."

Chris added "The Liberal Democrats Local Income Tax Policy is honest straightforward and fair whilst Labour's tinkering is arbitrary, random and unfair."