THIS week, residents across South Lakeland, Furness and Eden learned they were set to be hit by steep Council Tax rises, taking annual average band D bills beyond the reach of many monthly pay packets.

Spiralling service costs and shrinking government grants have all taken flak for increasing Council Tax rates as police, county and district councils gear up to fix their budget for the coming financial year.

Penrith and the Border MP David Maclean and Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins are now poised to launch a county-wide campaign to get more cash for Cumbria from Government.

But with stinging highways maintenance cuts and Council Tax rises of around 12 per cent already on the table it could already be too late for the region's householders.

BETH BROOMBY and JENNIE DENNETT report.

February 7, 2003 09:00