COUNCIL bosses in South Ribble have been forced to axe a mobile tax collection service because insurers are refusing to cover it in new policies, says a charity.

But don't tell anyone at the council we told you - they don't want you to know.

Hundreds of people - including pensioners - living in South Ribble's rural districts will lose the mobile collection service at the end of next month. Instead, they will have to visit local post offices to pay their tax, and be charged a handling fee of 97p.

The council has refused to foot the extra charges, which every council in Lancashire, bar one, pays. It is also staying silent on why the service is being axed.

Council chief Ron Matthews refused to discuss the issue in front of the press at last week's meeting of the community development sub-committee, saying the matter had to be discussed in private.

But Age Concern told the Citizen the reason given to them for the loss is that the council's insurers have refused to cover the van, saying it isn't wise to advertise where a vehicle carrying money will be visiting.

Inspector Mark Tottman of Penwortham Police added: "We advised them that the system they were operating was a risky one and the insurance firm agreed."

All Mr Matthews would say at the meeting was: "People can pay bills at the post office for a handling fee or at the Midland Bank, which is our bank, at no extra cost.

"We won't be paying the handling charge for the post office."

A spokesman for Penwortham Town Council, which attended the meeting, said: "There is considerable disquiet in Penwortham about this issue..

"People liked the mobile office because it enabled them to ask questions and put forward complaints as well as pay bills."

County Councillor Tim Farron said: "It seems strange that the council wants to keep this a secret. It isn't their fault. But not to pay the extra handling charge seems very cold-hearted."

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