SHROPSHIRE Council is set to lose “around £20 million” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according the authority’s finance boss.

The figure comes as a result of spending on efforts to respond to the crisis, as well as loss of income car parks, museums and leisure centres.

The true cost of the pandemic to the county will not be known until much later, but initial estimates suggest a significant blow to the council’s finances.

James Walton, director of finance, governance and assurance, said the authority was waiting to find find out what further funding it was to be allocated from the government, to top up an initial grant of almost £9 million announced in March.

Mr Walton said: “The government has pledged an additional £1.6bn for councils to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is in addition to the £1.6bn pledged on March 19 of which Shropshire Council received an allocation of £8.97m.

“We understand that discussions were being held between government departments over the first half of this week and we will be advised of our allocation of additional funding, under a new methodology, later in the week.

“We are pleased that the government recognises that significant financial implications are falling on local government as a result of our actions to help manage the pandemic, although it is far too early to estimate with any certainty what the final cost to Shropshire Council will be.

“A very initial estimate suggested around £20m, but this figure will change as our understanding of the financial impact of COVID-19 on the council improves.”