Biddulph residents have been urged to speak up about how much they are willing to pay for policing and fire services in the county.

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Matthew Ellis has asked people to choose between different options when it comes to paying for the local services.

The Commissioner is required to set the amount local people pay towards policing and fire and rescue each financial year.

Mr Ellis has said it is now more important than ever that he hears from as many people as possible about what they feel they can afford to pay and should pay towards emergency services.

Residents can make their voices heard by filling in the survey at this link.

The survey asks people how much more they would be willing to pay per year for policing, with the options being no increase, an increase of 4.99% or an increase of 6.66%.

Based on a Band D property currently paying £225.09 each year for policing and £77.24 for fire and rescue, an increase of 4.99% would equate to an extra 22p a week, while a 6.66% would mean an extra 29p a week.

There are two options relating to fire services - these being no increase, or an increase of 1.99%, which would equate to an extra 3p a week for the Band D property described above.

Mr Ellis said: "As well as overseeing the work of policing, the fire and rescue service and some community safety services across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, I am also required to decide how much residents locally will pay towards the services.

"It forms a part of the annual council tax bills we all receive. The Government also provides money from national taxation and the two amounts added together is what can be spent on the services here.

"In setting the local taxation each year I take account of how much the Government provides, the views of the senior leadership of each Service, new challenges and risks, requirements set by Government and I also ask tax payers themselves for their thoughts through this consultation.

"I try hard to keep the cost to local tax payers down and since I first set the local tax for policing in 2013, Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have seen the second smallest increase of all 43 police force areas nationally.

"2020 has been unprecedented because of Covid. Whilst public services have been heroic in their efforts, the ongoing effects of the virus and catastrophic impact on businesses, jobs and livelihoods means getting the balance right between investing in services and being clear that people are hurting financially is vital.

"I would welcome your views and wish you the very best."