RESIDENTS have been reacting to news that householders in Torfaen are facing council tax hikes of at least 3.5 per cent next year.

The Free Press reported last week how Torfaen council chiefs are considering the new hike after imposing a 3.95 council tax per cent increase in April.

Householders in average "band D" households were asked to pay annual council tax bills of £1,047 this spring - before any extra precepts for the police and town or community councils are added to the bills.

The current UK inflation rate is about 1.3 per cent.

Gaynor James, Pontypool Community Council chairwoman, said: “I understand how people feel – they are not happy with the rise in taxes.

“The local authority has had so many cuts – it’s got to be paid for.”

Ms James, who also runs a clothes shop at Pontypool Market, said it was all part of a “vicious circle”.

“People are obviously not happy with having to pay for more taxes, and that affects business and how people spend then,” she added.

Ivor Owen, aged 67, from Cwmbran, said: “It affects us all – by the time we’ve paid our bills, and now the council tax on top of that then, there’s not much left to play with from people’s pensions or wages.”

Ken James, a Pontypool resident of 35 years, said: “People are becoming used to it now to be honest – we understand that cuts have to be made. I’m obviously not happy with it, and no-one I know is happy with it, but what can you do?”

Torfaen council said last month it had to find £10m worth of savings after facing a grant reduction of 3.9 per cent from the Welsh Government.

But in a budget report handed to cabinet earlier this month [December 2], Torfaen council said it was now “close to a balanced budget” for 2015/16, which would honour the protection needed for school funding and avoid shutting services completely.

A council spokesman said the proposed council tax increase in the Medium Term Financial Plan was 3.5 per cent.

The cabinet is to consider a council tax recommendation next February and the new bills will be sent by April.