RESIDENTS of a Worcestershire village are to discuss whether their council tax precept should more than double to help fight plans to build a recycling plant there.

Norton-Juxta-Kempsey Parish Council invited Norton residents to next week's meeting to ask their views on the possibility of increasing the 2008/2009 precept to help raise £30,000 needed by the J7-Waste Action Group to fight Mercia Waste Management's plans to build a recycling centre in the village's Woodbury Lane.

Parish council chairman Michael Reeves said if the increase goes ahead, the £26 precept, for example on a band D property, would more than double to about £58.

"As a parish council we felt we couldn't go ahead without consulting the parishioners," he said.

He said the council did not know how the residents would feel about the suggestion.

The action group is currently paying for its campaign and posters with donations from residents, with people giving their time free of charge, including Whittington resident solicitor David Hallmark, of legal firm Hallmarks in Worcester.

However, action group spokesman David Crosby said if plans were approved by Worcestershire County Council's planning committee, which meets in May, the group would take legal action to fight the decision, which could be very costly.

"We have to be prepared to get funds in place because the legal costs then will not be free," he said.

He said if Norton agrees, the group would then approach other parish council's such as Wadborough and Drakes Broughton.

The Worcester News has followed the action group's campaign against the plans to build a centre capable of handling 105,000 tonnes of material annually from Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Members fear the site will cause pollution, traffic problems and devalue their homes. The public meeting to discuss the precept will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, April 12 at Norton Parish Hall.

The county council is due to consider the application on Tuesday, May 15.

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