A MASSIVE increase in fire service costs is on the cards for council tax payers in North Yorkshire.

The fire and rescue element of the annual charge is set to rise by about 30pc.

Brigade managers, who are setting up special meetings to explain the rise, say the main reason is last year's firefighters' pay award. They insist the increase is justified and that in the end it is for the community's good.

If approved, the rise will see a typical Band D house in Hambleton pay an extra £14 for the service.

For the first time, the cost of the service will be detailed on council tax bills.

Householders have their first chance to air their views at a public meeting in Northallerton next week.

Hambleton group manager, Owen Hayward, said: "As part of our commitment to improving communication with the communities we serve, we are holding a public meeting where people will have the chance to hear about how the service proposes to spend council tax money in 2004-05 and to give their views on the service and its cost."

At the moment, the increase is just a proposal on a £30.2m budget which has to be approved by the county's fire authority on February 17, after the current consultation period.

But if it gets the go-ahead, the cost in Hambleton per head of resident population will be an average £22.16 a year, or 43p a week. This compares to £16.60 or 32p a week last year.

The cost for a Band D property would be £58.86 as against £44.38 last year.

Mr Hayward said pay was the main factor in the increase.

"But from the end of the dispute, each authority had to do various things like preparing risk management plans and working on more than just intervention," he said. "As a result, there is a lot more community safety work, which all costs.

"We are moving to both intervention and prevention and multi-agency working. This involves presentations to schools and community groups and road safety campaigns."

Previously, fire charges have been part of North Yorkshire County Council and City of York figures. From now, the cost will have its own line on council tax bills.

The Northallerton meeting will be the first of its kind in Hambleton.

Mr Hayward admitted he was unsure how it would go.

"I know the police got a mixed response when they had meetings to explain higher council tax charges," he said. "If people know a big rise is on the way, quite a few could turn up.

"But the increase is justified and for the community's own good.

"It is our responsibility to try to prevent fires and other emergencies, such as road accidents. We are moving into community safety. Very much so."

The meeting, at Fire Brigade HQ in Crosby Road next Friday, is open to any Hambleton tax payer and starts at 7.30