Monmouth MP David Davies is urging residents to sign a petition calling on the Welsh Government to reject proposals for a council tax revaluation.

Mr Davies has written to residents highlighting the petition and saying: “Monmouthshire residents face astronomical council tax hikes if proposals to revalue homes go ahead and I urge residents to sign this petition.

“A revaluation of all 1.5 million properties in Wales is being suggested in a consultation published by the Welsh Government.

“Under the reforms – entitled ‘A Fairer Council Tax’ – new bands would be created and new tax rates for each band would be set.”

The petition says: ‘A careful reading of the consultation document and attachments shows that nearly four out of 10 homeowners in Monmouthshire will move up a band and face paying hundreds of pounds more each year in council tax, while less than one out of 10 would pay less by moving down a band.

‘Monmouthshire residents already face an unfair council tax burden because it is the lowest funded local authority area in Wales.

‘The shortfall between what is received from the Welsh Labour Government and what the council spends is made up by council tax.

‘Because the initial funding is already low, our council taxes are far higher than they should be.

‘Before the Welsh Government even considers a revaluation, it should bring forward a fairer funding formula for allocating money to the 22 local authorities in Wales.

‘Monmouthshire is likely to be a net loser from these proposals potentially pushing hard-pressed families into much higher council tax bands, making it even more expensive and for some local people unaffordable to live here at a time when many are struggling with the cost of living.

‘It is a crude and false premise, with no evidence to back it up, to equate property value with income wealth, particularly in places like Monmouthshire. There are a number of people who from the house value are capital rich but income poor and who struggle in paying existing council tax.

‘At present, Monmouthshire is being used as a cash cow and this is about to get a lot worse.I, and many others, have already provided feedback to the consultation and I urge Monmouthshire residents to sign this petition so that action can be taken by the Senedd to influence the policy of Welsh Government.’

Anyone interested in signing Mr Davies’ petition can follow this link to do so https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245288