I WAS very disappointed to hear that the Independent-controlled Penketh Parish Council has decided to increase the parish precept by five per cent.

At a time when we are facing a cost of living crisis with rising energy prices and rising inflation this is a real kick in the teeth for the people of Penketh.

Residents in Penketh already pay the third highest council tax bills in Warrington, behind Birchwood (£1,104 band A) and Croft (£1,084 band A).

People in Penketh pay £1,082 per year in band A which is more than people living in Lymm, Stockton Heath and Walton have to pay.

Our near-neighbours in Great Sankey pay £1,066 per year in band A but that gap is going to increase because their parish council has decided to increase the precept by only two per cent in the 2022-23 financial year.

Elsewhere in Warrington, Winwick Parish Council has approved a 3.6 per cent increase.

Culcheth and Glazebury PC has gone for three per cent. Birchwood Parish Council has voted for a two-and-a-half per cent rise.

Burtonwood and Westbrook Parish Council has agreed a one per cent increase.

Appleton Parish Council, Poulton with Fearnhead Parish Council and Woolston Parish Council have gone further still and decided not to increase the precept at all.

Penketh Parish Council could have done that but decided not to.

Perhaps Penketh Parish Council will take some comfort from Lymm Parish Council which has agreed a whopping nine-and-a-half per cent increase but that is not much comfort for people living in Penketh.

GARY SLATER Penketh

PS. Many thanks to all the parish council clerks who responded so quickly to my emails and messages for information.