BURGESS Hill residents face a massive rise in their council tax.

The town council has announced a rise of 9.9 per cent in 2018/19 and 7.7 per cent in 2019/20.

This is the equivalent to an increase in cost to residents for a Band D property of £7.03 in 2018/19 with a further increase of around £5.97 in 2019/20.

The total increase over the two years equates to £13 of which, £11.87 will go towards the repayment of a loan for a new community centre.

A council spokesman said: “ These rises, in total, equate to just over £1 per month.

“The increases will remain for the period of the loan and include the normal running costs of the Town Council for the next two years.”

The council announced the rise in a press release this week which focused on the project to create a new community and performing arts centre in Burgess Hill.

Details of the tax rise were buried at the bottom of the statement.

The council says the aim is for a centre that is fit for Burgess Hill’s needs in the 21st Century and compliments the other venues around the town.

The plans were presented to a well-attended public consultation.

These plans can be viewed at the Burgess Hill Town Council Help Point, 96 Church Walk, and online at www.burgesshill.gov.uk.

The new venue is estimated to cost £6.9 million and Burgess Hill Town Council is planning to raise this money through a combination of fundraising, grants, council reserves and a loan via the Public Works Loan Board.

The project is dependent on securing a loan of £5 million and approval is needed from residents to enable the council to apply for this funding from the government.