Wigan council tax rise of 4.99% sparks debate among residents
Inflation-busting increase draws mixed reactions from locals
Earlier this week council taxpayers in Wigan found out they are to be hit with an inflation-busting rise in bills.
The Labour controlled council confirmed the amount residents will pay will increase by 4.99 per cent from April, 2026.
Leader of the council David Molyneux argued that despite the rise bills ‘will still be the lowest in North West and one of the lowest of all metropolitan authorities in the country’.
However opposition independent councillor Stuart Gerrard said that the rise in bills would hit already struggling families hard and that it was a ‘political choice’ to hike council tax by the maximum allowed.
The leader also confirmed the authority would be retaining free car parking at weekends at all council car parks.
Presenting the detailed budget, Coun Nazia Rehman said: “This budget is a balanced stable and a prudent budget protecting frontline services, the lowest council tax in Greater Manchester, easing pressure on household budgets while protecting key services with increased investment in social care for both children and adults.”
On the day the increase was confirmed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked people out in Wigan town centre their views on the rise and whether they thought they got value for money for their council tax:
On an unseasonably sunny and relatively warm early March afternoon Wallgate was busy with shoppers.
The town centre is undergoing unprecedented redevelopment and construction work at the nearby former Galleries site, soon to be re branded Fettlers, could be heard.
Work on the site is now very visible with the new indoor market set open later this year and followed by a hotel.
Ste Matthews, 56, lives in a council home in Spring View at the former St Mary’s primary school site. He said moving into the the property had ‘transformed my life’ and praised the eco features at the 47-home affordable development.
On the council tax rise, he said: “As far as a five per cent rise for next year I’m living proof that there’s been investment in housing. “I live in a new build, it’s and ultra-eco house which is fantastic, absolutely amazing.
“But, the state of the roads is a big concern for me. “The pot holes are that bad they’re tearing the sh*t out of my car and caravan.
“If the bills are going up like this I’d like to see some tangible benefits for Wigan.”
Speaking at the budget meeting later the same day, cabinet member for highways, Paul Prescott addressed the issue of pot holes.
He said: “We repair more than 200 pot holes every week, and in 2025/26 were on target to resurface around 34 kilometres of highway in the borough.”
Jim Halpin, 38, from, Ince, said he was ‘completely fed up’ with rises from the council. “It’s about time these so called representatives arrived in the real world” he said.
“Every year it’s the same, the maximum rise with no account made of how many people are struggling to pay bills already, that’s without them going up.
“They just seem to suck more and more from folk – they don’t listen.”
Pat Gibbons, 78, from Goose Green was out shopping. She said: “It seems the nature of things that council tax bills go up year after year.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the new development in he town centre, particularly the new market. “What the council needs to do is ensure that the right type of outlets go in there.
“The own needs good shops, if they are there people will use them. I certainly would.”
Roy Aspinall, 45, is from Pemberton. He said: “So it’s another five per cent increase is it?
“Looking around the town I sometimes wonder whether these councillors walk the same streets and drive on the same roads as the rest of us.
“The development of the town centre has taken too long and its lost a lot of its vibrancy.
“Wiganers want to see the town and rest of the borough thrive but it’s hard to see it coming back to its best, to what it once was.”