Council tax bills for Chelmsford borough residents are set to rise by an average eight per cent.

Householders with a band D property will pay between £812.84 and £864.03 a year depending on where they live.

That compares to last year's £752.90-£801.58 - an average rise of £1.17 a week. The charge for a band D house in South Woodham Ferrers will be £863.33.

In Woodham Ferrers and Bicknacre the charge is £828.44; Rettendon - £826.54; Runwell - £822.52; Stock - £830.29; East Hanningfield - 834.74; South Hanningfield - £843.03 and West Hanningfield - £828.68

Chelmsford Council, which receives 13p in every pound, has put its share of the bill up by 8.6 per cent - an average of just over 16p a week.

The rest of the increase comes from Essex County Council, Essex Police Authority and local parish and town councils.

Chelmsford Council has received no increase in government support since 1998/99 and will use its extra cash to maintain existing services.

It also plans to introduce some savings so it can extend its kerbside recycling scheme into new areas, including South Woodham Ferrers.

Full details of the new council tax bills and how they are made up plus details on discounts, benefits and appeals will be sent to all homes in the Chelmsford borough in the next few weeks.

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