Campaigning Laindon residents will take their fight for a lower council tax to a valuation tribunal this week.

More than 30 Laindon Link residents are calling for their homes to be put in a lower tax band.

If successful the result could open the floodgates to allow all Laindon Link residents to contest their bills.

The bandings were set in 1993 by the Government, with bills set according to the value of properties.

Five Links residents will argue the deterioration of their homes represents a special case for why their tax bills should be reduced.

A coachload of residents from FLAGRA - the Five Links Action Group Residents' Association - will have their case heard at the Witham valuation tribunal on Thursday.

FLAGRA chairman Pat Denne said: "We are taking this action because house prices have plummeted on Five Links due to the years of neglect.

"People fear their homes are going to be demolished while you cannot sell your house here or get your money back. People who want to have a council exchange event stipulate they do not want a home on Five Links."

Most residents on the estate own homes in the A to C band - the lower end of the banding spectrum.

Because properties depreciate at roughly the same rate, the Government will generally only consider appeals from residents who claim they were originally placed in the wrong band or who argue the value of their home has fallen because of special circumstances.

Councillor Bob Sears, Labour member for Langdon Hills, said: "I feel the residents are quite justified in their concerns.

"They argue their properties have deteriorated to such an extent that they should be considered for a revaluation. Many owner-occupiers have bought their homes but cannot sell them.

"For example, the drains are collapsing but the council has not got the money to repair them."

A successful appeal could allow other residents to make similar claims.

Mr Sears said: "The whole of the estate is affected. If taxes were reduced that would have a knock-on effect for other residents."

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