AN additional £56,000 will be put towards funding a new skate park as part of a town council’s budget plans.

The council tax precept in Harwich is set to rise by “less than the cost of a loaf of bread.”

Harwich Town Council’s proposed budget for 2017-18 will see council tax rise by three per cent, meaning Band D households pay 96p more than the previous year, a total of £32.98.

The budget proposal was agreed by the council’s finance committee and will allow the council to continue funding its projects and services.

An additional £56,000 will be put towards plans for a new and improved skate park, in Low Road, bringing the council’s total contribution to the project up to £100,000.

There will be a £40,000 grant budget to assist local organisations, charities and good causes, while £3,500 will be set aside to put up, maintain and insure Christmas lights in Dovercourt High Street and Harwich Quay.

Hanging flower baskets in Dovercourt High Street will be maintained throughout the summer with a £3,000 budget.

£6,100 will be used to pay for Harwich and Dovercourt’s public CCTV coverage to be monitored 24 hours a day.

A £15,000 economic development budget will be used to ensure there is funding for shuttle buses to bring cruise ship crews into town to shop.

Garry Calver, chairman of the committee, said: “The council’s proposed budget will see council tax rise by less than the cost of one loaf of bread per year.

“There has been an incredible amount of work put into the preparation of this budget proposal and I am particularly grateful to our town clerk, Lucy Ballard, for her efforts.

He added: “Harwich Town Council will still only cost a Band D household 63 pence per week.

“That’s roughly the cost of the Standard.

“When you look at all we are doing that is very good value for money.”

There will also be a new £5,000 budget to assist with the funding of events related to Harwich’s Mayflower 2020 celebrations, and £10,000 will be set aside for a new nine-hole crazy golf course at the council’s seafront putting green site.

The proposals are set for final approval at a meeting of Harwich Town Council on December 13.