BEWDLEY residents will face an 8.8 per cent increase in town council tax following the members' approval of next year's budget.

The rise represents an increase of £1.27 a year or two and a half pence a week for a council tax band D dwelling.

A budget of £70,129 was approved at the council's most recent meeting, comprising a precept of £58,025, with £8,704 from Wyre Forest District Council and £3,400 from town council reserves.

Last year's budget was £53,543 and the estimated actual spend stands at £64,941.

A contribution of £6,000 to the Christmas Lights Festival, £5,000 towards a CCTV scheme, £5,000 for Opportunity Bewdley and £4,000 for the maintenance of the Wyre Hill play area are included in the budget for 2006-07.

Other costs include £1,000 for Bewdley Carnival fireworks, £1,000 for the Bewdley Youth Caf project, £1,000 for flower tubs and baskets around the town, £600 towards transport services, such as Dial-a-Ride, and a £500 donation to Wyre Forest Citizens Advice Bureau.

One of the costs that has risen since the last budget is the council's insurance premium, which will cost around £1,000, as the authority recently had its valuables, such as the mayor's chains and maces, currently stored in the bank, re-valued.

Bewdley Mayor, Councillor Liz Davies, said she felt the 8.8 per cent increase was fair in relation to what the council did for the town.

She added: " We know the public are taxed very highly, so we do try to keep it down but there are things like the Christmas festivities we don't want to cut. We do not believe £1.27 is an awful lot more to ask people of Bewdley to pay.

"It will enable us to do some of the things we will want to do, including making a contribution to the provision of CCTV in Bewdley. We will continue to support the Christmas festivities and carnival fireworks."