Sports pitch prices to be cut in Tendring (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

Sports pitch prices to be cut in Tendring

3:00pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News

SPORTS pitch fees will be cut after council bosses admitted scoring an own goal by hiking up fees.

Tendring Council put up fees three years ago to try bring in more money.

But costs rose so much that clubs were forced to pay as much as £100 to hire a pitch and referee.

The move was blamed for a fall in the number of clubs playing in Clacton’s Sunday League.

Council leader Peter Halliday has now confirmed prices will return to those in place three years ago.

“We attempted to raise income from these activities at a time when nationally participation was in decline,” he said.

“This was not successful and we recognise this, so we are removing the increase to try to encourage our old customers back and hopefully some new interest will be generated.”

The hike was meant to raise £12,000 for council coffers but cost the council £3,500 through lost bookings.

Opposition councillor and Clacton United FC vice-chairman Pierre Oxley said: “We stopped using Vista Road for a lot of games and started using the pitches at Clacton County High School instead as it was cheaper.

“The whole policy was madness - they thought they could make a quick buck, but it was never going to work.”