RESIDENTS of Shedfield are being asked to dig deep to meet a parish council precept increase of more than 36 per cent so councillors can fend off a legal row parishioners know nothing about.

Mystery surrounds the nature of the long-running dispute the authority is embroiled in over land bordering Shedfield Common - but they still want parishioners to pay for it.

All parish council chiefs could reveal was that it involved an alleged encroachment of common land.

Parish council chairman, Stuart Jones, has defended the hike that comes into effect in April, saying it was unavoidable.

He said: "The increase is not going to kill anyone. Shedfield Parish Council operates a modest budget, about half of which covers the clerk's salary and administration costs. Any unusual or unplanned expenditure will result in a large percentage increase in the precept and this year we need to hold significant additional funds in reserve to cover potential legal fees. We can't say any more."

The proposed hike in the parish precept will see residents in band D properties paying almost an extra £15 a year - taking their annual bill from about £40 to almost £55.

But one resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said people were furious about paying for something they knew nothing about. She added: "There are one or two people in the parish council that are making life very difficult and we are having to pay for it.

"I feel that people ought to be made aware of the details of this legal battle."

A Winchester Road resident, who also wished to remain anonymous, said: "They poke their nose into petty things rather addressing things that matter."

Councillors also plan to use the extra money to maintain the new recreation ground at Shirrell Heath and build a new parish office. Also, they have made donations towards rebuilding the fire-damaged village Scout headquarters and for community sports facilities at Swanmore College.

Mr Jones added: "It is unfortunate that all these factors have resulted in an undesirable increase but this follows several years of minimal increase and is to be seen as a one-off."