AMESBURY town council has raised their council tax precept by 14 per cent.

At a recent meeting of the finance and general purposes committee, councillors agreed to raise the precept from £90,000 to £103,000.

It means a property in Band D will now pay £33.38 for the year 2005/06, compared with £29.52 for the previous year.

Councillor Fred Westmoreland said it might seem like a large jump percentage-wise, but when broken down it only equated to an extra £4 per year for properties in Band D.

He also explained the increase, adding: "Amesbury town council is using £75,000 of developers' money to build ball and skate-ball parks at the recreation ground.

"The council is sure that these facilities will prove popular and be well used.

"Unfortunately, in order to make best use of them, the security of the pavilion needs to be sorted out.

"It will cost about £3,500 to do the job, which doesn't sound much until we remember that our entire useable income is only £103,000 - so we need to put 3.5 per cent on the precept to pay for metal shutters.

"And it's all like that, small sums that are only significant because our total income is so small.

"The Christmas lights attract favourable comments - and suggestions for enhancement and improvement.

"The new benches at Lord's Walk are well used - and we are asked to provide more.

"And the Council must admit to one extravagance - this year the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar is being celebrated nationally, we have decided to join in, and that's another three per cent on the precept.

"We try not to waste money, but sometimes we have to spend some."