ALCESTER residents are still in the dark over funding proposals for town council elections after Stratford District Council's controversial decision to slap on administrative charges.

Town council clerk Derrick Ward said he had been rebuffed "time and time again" when he asked about the district council's service charge, which comes into force from April next year.

He said: "The council made this decision out of the blue and expect us to pick up the pieces, but we can't plan our budget until we know the cost that we're faced with."

Last month the Alcester Chronicle reported that town council elections would now have to be funded through the town council's precept.

The move followed a Stratford District Council announcement on cost-cutting measures.

The controversial move has sparked fierce criticism from town councillors, who fear residents will suffer as a result.

"What is peanuts to them is a huge amount to a small town like Alcester.

"We're picking up the tab for their money problems, which is totally unfair," said Mr Ward.

"And their failure to tell us what we'll have to pay adds insult to injury," he added.

Stratford District Council's head of policy and public relations, Robert Walsh, said talks continued and details of charges would be announced in October.

In a letter addressed to the town council, he stated: "We understand the change in policy will give rise to concern.

"But regrettably our budget is under such immense pressure that the council is left with no alternative but to place these charges onto the relevant parish and town councils."