Rates rebel says rectory work bill ‘stinks’

Saturday 14th May 2011, 2:29PM BST.

A REQUEST that St Sampson’s residents pick up a £21,700 bill for repairs to the church’s rectory ‘stinks’, according to a critic of the current rates setup.

Ratepayers and electors have been invited to attend a meeting on Thursday 26 May to vote for or against the 2011 owner’s rate.

Out of the £38,394.63 total, almost £7,000 is needed for extraordinary repairs to the parish church and almost £22,000 is required for extraordinary repairs to the rectory – including the removal and replacement of two chimneys and repointing brickwork to the rear elevation.

Colin Paver, 74, pictured, has lived in St Sampson’s his whole life and said the amounts being requested for work to the rectory were ridiculous.