RESIDENTS in Wiltshire owe the council £12.2million in unpaid council tax according to new figures from a debt charity.

The data, included in a newly-published report by the Department for Communities and Local Government, shows that residents in the county owe the amount of money up until March 31 this year.

But Wiltshire Council has hit back at the findings, insisting it collects the third largest amount of council tax in the country.

Joanna Elson OBE, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, said: “The level of unpaid council tax in Wiltshire remains a concern. With people in the area now paying 3.93 per cent more in council tax than they were this time last year, there is a risk that residents who are already behind will find it even more difficult to resolve their financial difficulty.

“Council tax is vital in funding the essential local services that we all rely on, and local authorities are already under significant financial pressure – so it is in everyone’s interests that arrears are repaid.”

Since April, bills for residents in Wiltshire have risen by 3.93 per cent – with the average bill for a Band D household amounting to £1594.72 for 2016/17, compared to £1534.45 for 2015/16.

Wiltshire Council said the vast majority of council tax payers pay on time but they recognise that many homeowners need financial help.

A spokesman added: “Our debt collection is very efficient resulting in a very low level of bad debt write-off – much lower than the £12.2m owed.

“We have reduced arrears by more than £500,000 in the last year as a result of pro-active recovery processes.”