After Ludlow Town Council hit residents with a rise in the council tax levy, people living in south Shrosphire have received some good news.

The new Shropshire Council will meet today (Thursday) and is set to freeze its council tax demand for the coming year.

“I have listened carefully to the people of Shropshire and responded to their concerns in this economic downturn,” said Councillor Malcolm Pate, chairman of the implementation executive for the new unitary authority, which comes into effect later this year. “There will be no proposed council tax increase and we will be able to improve our services.”

He said the freeze is made possible as a result of more than £10 million in savings that will result from combining the operation of six district councils into a single unitary body.

This means the new authority will be able to invest more than £5 million in the improvement of services and £970,000 in the concessionary fare scheme.

Bus pass users will be able to travel at any time with the removal of restrictions preventing concession holders from making a journey before 9.30am.

More than £500,000 will also be ploughed into both street cleaning and services for looking after children.