COUNCIL chiefs on the Isle of Wight have approved a council tax rise of 2.5 per cent.

It brings the cost of an average band D bill for a Newport household to £1,452.

The Tory run council had to make savings of £11.4m to balance its books.

Protesters gathered at county hall in Newport to protest at more than £2m of cuts to community services on the Island which they claimed would hit the most vulnerable residents, including the those with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

The council said they would instead be given individual budgets to cover the cost of the help they need, adding the overall budget for adult services has been increased by £2.5m.

The budget set aside major cash commitments to build roads, drive up educational standards through a two-tier schools system and modernise the county’s fire service. Parking charges have been frozen.

Leisure facilities will receive a £7.6 million boost over the next three years.

Council leader David Pugh said: “I am confident this is a budget that puts huge investment into the areas where residents have told us they want to see such investment and also looks after those most in need of our support. And it does this while keeping a council tax rise down to 2.5 per cent.”

The council tax hike comes as a survey found bills in the south east will rise by an average 2.3 per cent, the second highest regional rise in England.

The average Band D bill for 2010/11 will rise by £32 to £1,469, according to the respected Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.