Man slams rise in allotment costs (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)
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Man slams rise in Frinton allotment costs
2:00pm Friday 5th October 2012 in News
A MAN has slammed a massive rise in allotment rates in Frinton.
The price of renting allotment space in Frinton has risen dramatically over the last two years.
Last year the cost increased by 14.75 per cent, while this year it has risen again by 28.5 per cent.
Ken Bate, 78, has rented two allotment plots at Witton Wood Road in Frinton for the last 16 years.
He has branded the price increase “outrageous”.
He said: “I have had my allotment for a long time but now it feels like they are taking advantage. That big a raise is absolutely outrageous.”
The cost of Ken’s two plots has risen from £70 last year to nearly £90 this year.
He added: “Lots of people who use the allotments are pensioners and it is a lot of money for us.
“Where does it stop? Is there going to be another big rise next year? It could become extortionate.”
The increase was decided on by Frinton and Walton Town Council, which runs the Witton Wood Road allotments.
Mayor Mark Cossens said: “We still want to provide these facilities but the council is of the opinion that the tax payer should not have to support those renting allotments.
“We want to provide them for a realistic fee, and I think they still represent really good value for money."
Comments(4)
Joker50
says...
12:26pm Sun 7 Oct 12
Crazyt
says...
9:02pm Sun 7 Oct 12
cavillas wrote:if you read the article, it has nothing to do with being a cash cow. Merely that the charges should cover the cost rather than the taxpayer. besides £20/year raise? thats less than 40 pence a week, the total charge of £90/year is around £1.70 a week, you spend more than that on milk, I think outrageous is not the word that springs to mind. I am sure there are much more worrying and newsworthy things going on in the Tendring area at the moment.
Outrageous! Allotments should be at peppercorn rents and not be a money making scheme by unscrupulous councils. It is a legal obligation to provide allotments for residents and should not be a financial cash cow. Disgusting!
parentis
says...
2:10pm Mon 8 Oct 12
Crazyt wrote:Quite right why should non allotment owners subsidize them I grow my veg in my garden no one subsidizes my land, lets be honest if you cant afford to buy your own home large enough to have a veg patch then you have failed in life.
cavillas wrote:if you read the article, it has nothing to do with being a cash cow. Merely that the charges should cover the cost rather than the taxpayer. besides £20/year raise? thats less than 40 pence a week, the total charge of £90/year is around £1.70 a week, you spend more than that on milk, I think outrageous is not the word that springs to mind. I am sure there are much more worrying and newsworthy things going on in the Tendring area at the moment.
Outrageous! Allotments should be at peppercorn rents and not be a money making scheme by unscrupulous councils. It is a legal obligation to provide allotments for residents and should not be a financial cash cow. Disgusting!
cavillas says...
10:04am Sat 6 Oct 12