Dartmouth householders are facing a hike of more than 30 per cent in the town council's share of their council bills – partly to help pay for the town's new indoor swimming pool.

And some councillors said even that above inflation rise was not enough to cover the town council's bills.

The increase will see the average town council tax bill shoot up from £46.85 a year to £61.33 for the coming financial year starting in April – an increase of £14.48.

And mayor Paul Allen has justified the increase as 'prudent financial management for the benefit of the whole community'.

Councillors stressed the increase will still leave bills below the money being demanded at neighbouring Totnes and Ivybridge councils.

And the council's finance chairman Francis Hawke pointed out that the rise works out at only £1.20 a month for each household.

The tax increase will help the town council find the £50,000 a year over the next three years it is expecting to contribute to the cost of building the £2m new indoor swimming pool at Townstal, said Cllr Hawke.

It will also help fund the £25,000 to £30,000 bill for painting the Old Market walls along with redecorating work at the Butterwalk and work it is hoped to eventually carry out on the Boatfloat.

But Cllr Tessa de Galleani warned the increase might not be big enough. She said: 'I am not sure that the rise is sufficient to cover the costs we have – especially when you consider the swimming pool.'

For more on this story, see this week's Dartmouth Chronicle