COUNCIL Tax is to go up in Abbots Langley to pay for improvements to facilities to bring them in line with the Disability Discrimination Act.

Abbots Langley Parish Council maintains most of the parks, playgrounds, allotments and community halls in the area and at a recent meeting where the annual budget was set, it was revealed the parish's outgoings have gone over £500,000 for the first time.

Major projects the parish council needs to fund include upgrades to some of its playgrounds and ensuring all of the council's community halls comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

The figure provided as an example of how Council Tax would rise was that for a Band D property, Council Tax next year will go up by £3.77, or just over 7p per week.

Councillor Keith Williams said: "We do not like having to put the Council Tax up above the rate of inflation, but councillors are very keen to upgrade all our facilities to make them more accessible for people with disabilities to comply with recent legislation.

"We have a major programme to achieve this in 2005/6. Unlike Hertfordshire County Council and Three Rivers District Council, the parish does not receive any grants from Central Government towards its costs.

"By going over half a million pounds expenditure, the council is now subject to more stringent and costly scrutiny of it's accounts, but at less than £50 per property, many local residents still think the parish council is excellent value for money."

The council has put £14,000 into its budget to support local organisations, including an extra £3,000 to support organisations who need help throughout the year.