ANGRY residents have called for the resignation of town councillors who voted for an increase of 48 per cent on the council tax.

At a town meeting, chaired by west Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison at Trowbridge Civic Hall on Tuesday, townspeople voted for a town poll to be held, to ask the public whether the 13 of the town's 20 councillors who voted for the increase should resign.

Organiser Molly Hopkins said: "I proposed to call this meeting because I attended two meetings here and I was appalled. The council is not listening to us."

The decision of the town council to increase the town's precept to part-fund the refurbishment of the town hall has been met with a public outcry. Hundreds of people turned out to previous protest meetings and only three of the several hundred at Tuesday's meeting voted against putting the resignation motion to the public.

The council hopes to use the £375,000 towards the project through the precept rise. The rise equates to an increase of £44.22 a year on the average band D property, taking the annual bill to £136.07, more than the amount paid to West Wiltshire District Council.

Speaking after the meeting Cllr Angela Milroy, who voted in favour of the rise, said: "The real issue is about the future of Trowbridge Town Hall.

"It is part of our heritage and an iconic symbol closely identified with the town. "Allowing such a building to fall into disrepair, or even worse, become derelict gives totally the wrong impression to those visiting our town."

The council does not own the Grade II listed building but hopes to take it over from Wiltshire County Council for a nominal fee of £1 and then gain grant funding to pay for the rest of the project, an estimated bill of £3m.

Cllr Malcolm Rosier, who voted against the increase, said: "The whole project is a vainglorious folly. It has not been clearly thought through." Cllr Andrew Bryant, who also voted against the rise, said: "I think it was totally unethical but most of all it was insensitive because a blanket decision was made for the whole town."

A request has now been submitted to West Wiltshire District Council for a town poll to be held but a date has yet to be confirmed.

The poll is expected to cost taxpayers more than £3,000 and neither the council nor councillors have to abide by its result.

Protesters had ignored pleas from the town clerk, Lance Allan, to save taxpayers' money by raising matters at the annual town meeting on Tuesday rather than calling an extra meeting. Calls to use their vote at the local government elections next year rather than calling for a poll were also dismissed.

Cllr Milroy said: "Town councillors have to stand for election every four years. In May 2007 I will be standing on my record of service to the community and my determination to make Trowbridge a town of which we can be proud."