LOCAL councils have been lumped with “top-up” bills worth £2,837 to keep Malvern’s historic gas lamps shining.

The unexpected costs have re-ignited the debate on whether the lamps, some of which have lined the streets for more than 150 years, are a burden on the tax payer.

Malvern Town Council as well as Malvern Wells and West Malvern parish councils were left shocked to find supplementary bills from Malvern Hills District council demanding 13 per cent extra on top of the agreed annual cost for 2008/09.

Malcolm Victory, chairman of Malvern Wells Parish Council, which owns 48 of the 109 lamps, speculated it could mean a precept increase in the next financial year to make up for the shortfall.

“It’s £1,400 or thereabouts for us. We’re not happy about it and think MHDC is in the wrong about this.

“I think they should be paid for by central Government as it is a national heritage issue.”

Malvern Town Council, which is responsible for 20 lamps, had paid £4,934 for the 2008/09 financial year at the end of January.

Clerk Richard Chapman: “Ten days ago we got another bill with a letter for an extra £639, which we knew nothing about, and that is what I’m disputing.”

West Malvern’s 25 gas lamps resulted in an extra £798 charge to its annual bill of £6,168.

Chairman Joyce Roberts said: “It’s a lot of money isn’t it? I’m inclined to say to the district council that it’s tough; they’ve made the mistake and they can carry it.”

Alex Bill, environmental services manager, said: "I appreciate that this additional bill may not be convenient, but it is a cost that needs to be shared amongst the partners as initially agreed. As this was the first year that the contract was in place it was hard to estimate what the full amounts would be - it has been a learning curve for us all."