Allotment holders confront councillors about rent hikes in Kingston (From Kingston Guardian)

Allotment holders confront councillors about rent hikes in Kingston

9:00am Friday 3rd July 2009

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A petition against increasing allotment rents will be handed into the Kingston Council on Tuesday evening.

Rents will increase by 12 percent from next January to £69 on top of the 3 percent the council will charge all of its services to the public.

Councillor Steve Mama said: "Rent hikes of this nature are unjustified and fall particularly hard on residents who use allotments as their main hobby and recreation."

An allotment holder said this week: "It is not good. We have just started up and I would be very disappointed if there was a rent increase."

Petitioners are opposed to rent increases, especially without any improvements in security and upkeep.

But one man, who has held an allotment for over 40 years, said: "It is an allotment. Not Wisley Gardens. Most people I speak to would be quite happy with what they have got at the moment."

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