First council tax rise in 10 years welcome

Anne-Marie Darragh George Taylor McFarlane William McConnell Megan Residents back hike to help services

Save jobs Boost younger generation Help pay staff properly Support vulnerable people

Wishaw taxpayers have supported North Lanarkshire council’s tax hike announced in their recent budget.

The three per cent rise, the first lift in a decade, is argued to help to support vital services across the region by the authority.

Anne-Marie Darragh, a council worker from Cleland, believes the hike will help soften “brutal” cuts and keep people in jobs.

“If the money raised goes to the council then the rise is fine with me,” she said. “I know what the cutbacks will mean to services, and the number of folk who could be out of work if these aren’t properly funded.”

The three per cent hike will see taxpayers in Band D pay an extra £33 per year.

William McConnell, a coach driver from Wishaw, isn’t surprised the rates have gone up after a long spell of remaining the same.

“I think the bottom line is we need to pay more to save our services. It all went pear-shaped financially in 2008 but we’ve not had a lift since then and if we want to pay staff properly and keep things running then this is the right thing to do.

“I can understand if you’re young and you’ve got kids then it might not be so simple though.”

Megan McFarlane, who works at Arnold Clark, said: “If it’s going to help vulnerable people who are struggling then I think that’s great.”

George Taylor, from Wishaw, said: “I don’t mind helping other people. I’ve had a good life and now it’s time for me to give something back and help the younger generation.”