ALTON Town Council's Recreation Committee has agreed a price hike for the hire of ATC-owned sports facilities of at least five per cent from April 1.

The increase has been calculated in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) for September and to reflect increases in fuel and vehicle related costs.

Price rises will be higher for full matches which require more labour during preparation. The figures for the Assembly Rooms and all adult sports charges have been rounded to the nearest 50p per hour.

In a report to the November meeting, town clerk Steve Parkinson pointed out that last year the committee increased fees and charges by approximately four per cent. The charges for the Assembly Rooms main hall had been frozen for two years from April, 2007 due to refurbishment but will increase from April 1 with the minimum charge for two hours, during the day, rising from £34.04 to £35.74 (excluding VAT)

The rear rooms, which were subject to a major increase in 2007/08, will remain at £17.02 for two hours. However, the price for the lower and upper rooms will remain unchanged (at £16.59 for two hours) until the lower room has been refurbished.

The rent on allotments is to remain at £15 for 2008 and 2009, in line with the previously agreed policy of increasing in round pounds.

At Anstey Park, the new charges will see an increase from £47 for the use of rugby pitches for an adult match (including changing facilities) to £49.50. The hire of the cricket tables and changing facilities for an adult match will rise from £52 to £55; and from £10.50 to £11 for the use of tennis court lights and for the hourly hire, for an adult session, of a netball court.

There will be no increase in the cost for hiring changing facilities at the Finnimore Pavilion.

The annual fee for operating balloon flights from Anstey Park currently stands at £575 but this is to be reviewed.

At Jubilee Fields the cost of hiring a football pitch and changing facilities for an adult match will increase from £43.50 to £46; the hire of cricket tables will be the same as at Anstey Park but the hire of practice nets will increase from £13.63 to £14.47 per session.

The cost of stoolball per match will increase from £13 to £13.50, and the hire of the tea room and pavilion kitchen will increase from £12.50 to £13.

All these charges will be subject to VAT.

While some councillors argued for a bigger increase, on the basis that the charges did not reflect the true cost to the Council of providing the facilities, others stressed the obligation to provide affordable facilities that would encourage use.

There was unanimous agreement that the charging system should undergo a thorough review in the spring.