Harrogate & Knaresborough MP Phil Willis has hit out at North Yorkshire County Council’s plans to add what has been dubbed a ‘snow levy’ on council tax payers.

“People in Harrogate and Knaresborough were trapped in their homes for weeks because pavements and minor roads were blocked. Businesses lost millions in sales. Now local residents are expected to pay an increase in tax to pay for road repairs.” said Phil Willis.

“What are council tax payers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet, to make of a county council that says that there is no money to make all the necessary pothole repairs when it has £15m in reserves?

“Even with the council tax rise the council has admitted that this will not be enough to repair all the damage that has been done. How long will we be left with potholes blighting our road network?

“David Cameron is making much of his pledge of zero tax rises in Westminster while Tory councils out in the country invent stealth taxes to try to hoodwink tax payers to cough up even more!!” added the MP

ENDS