More than 600 slow rate-payers face financial penalty – and court

The deadline for payment expired last Friday and a further one week's grace has been extended before £25 penalties – permitted by law – are applied at the start of next week.

If people still don't respond they face being taken to Petty Debts Court. This is always a last resort for the Vale Parish but Senior Constable Richard Leale said: "We have a duty to the thousands of other parishioners who do pay their rates on time to ensure that everyone else does too,' he said. 'We can't simply ignore this even if we wanted to."

• Petty Debt Court charges for those brought before it are an additional £60 per person or married couple or £120 if they are cohabiting. A further £127 is charged if a further appearance is required to enforce judgement. 'That's why we really do urge people to pay on time,' said Mr Leale.
• Payment can be made by phone, in person or online. Parishioners can do so over the phone, when a card payment can be taken, or through parishioners' own online banking facility or mobile app.
• To do so, simply follow your own bank's instructions for setting up a new payee and enter the Vale Parish's sort code – 30-93-73 – and the parish account number – 02422523. Full details are on the rates bill itself.