WE asked a few Launceston residents for their opinion on the decision to increase the precept.

Margaret McMillan, a pensioner from Launceston, said she had no idea the council was voting on a rise in council tax during the recent meeting. She said: “It is outrageous. For someone on a fixed income, that is a lot of extra money to find with inflation as it is.

“I thought that the council had a lot of reserve funding already. It is not achievable at all for working families.

“I’m a pensioner myself on a fixed income, this rise of 16.4% will make quite a difference. I’m quite shocked actually that they have approved this.”

Donna Volz, of Tresmeer, said: “The police station has been shut down, the doctor’s surgery is always too busy and you only get a dustman come around every other week. You don’t get anything for your money these days, and they want us to pay more? We’d be happy for a small increase to pay for public services. But we get less anyway.

“Couldn’t they have found the shortfall somewhere else? Tell them we would all like a ‘rainy day fund’ for our pensions. Why is it acceptable for them to take my rainy day fund to top up theirs? Tell them there are people using foodbanks and people going without that don’t have rainy day funds.

“I think the bigger argument though is about whether the amount justifies the means. How much will that be for the amount of households — potentially at least a million if not more, and is that acceptable? Can they sell off their portfolio if they cannot afford to maintain it? This is the bigger debate I think.”

Marion Allen of Launceston said: “It seems like a lot to me. I think people will find it difficult. It all depends on what they spend the extra money on really, the council probably need it, don’t they?”

An elderly Launceston Library user said: “I saw this this morning on Facebook. As a pensioner I don’t have to worry about it, but having said that, it’s possible if your income is below a certain level to get council tax relief.

“These days it depends on certain things but if you’ve got low income and services it’s worth getting in touch with the council.”

Launceston resident Gordon Littlejohns (pictured right) said: “I think the town council are in a difficult situation as they probably should be getting more money from the government. But 16.4% is probably too big an increase.

“Everything seems to be done by a postcode lottery where if you live in a wealthy area you get it done, if you live in a poor one you don’t.”

One woman said: “Seems a hefty jump and the question is, what is that money for? We’ve got a lot of shops not doing that well, not that it’s their fault. Not a lot of people shop in the town anymore.”

A representative from one Launceston business said: “It was unprofessional to put it on social media, it was almost scaremongering as a lot of businesses in the town are struggling to make ends meet with the high price of rent as it is.

“They shouldn’t be putting prices up like that if they want to attract people to the town. The increase for car parking is going up from 50p to £1 per hour. If people are paying extra council tax, they want to see value for money.”

Cornish All Blacks player and Launceston resident, Levent Bulut, said: “Obviously you’ve got to pay tax in this country, which is fine — the good things it does such as help fund the NHS and fill potholes in our roads.

“But what I want to know is where that figure comes from, because inflation and local wages don’t match that increase. Where are we going to find that extra cash? At the end of the day, I don’t mind paying tax, but where does this tax go? It’d be good to see what this money goes on.”