MEMBERS of a Hartford sports club are furious at the parish council's decision to put up the club's rent 500-fold.

Hartford Bowls and Tennis Club has paid a peppercorn rent of £1 a year for more than 40 years but the parish council has recently decided to increase this to £500 a year.

Club members have asked the parish council to revoke what they see as an unfair decision.

Gill Symmons, secretary of the bowls club, said: "The members are up in arms about it. The parish council has just decided to put the rent up and that's it."

Fellow member Tricia Parker is also unhappy with the increase.

She said although the club charges a membership fee, it is a non-profit making organisation.

She said: "The money we make from subscriptions has been ploughed back into the club through maintenance."

"We have put a lot of energy into the club, especially the juniors. The parish council says it wants to keep youths off the streets. We are trying to help with that."

One of the club's main grievances is that in 1999, Hartford Cricket Club had its lease reviewed by the parish council and still only has to pay an annual rent of £1.

The cricket club's lease will not be reviewed again for another 25 years.

But parish clerk Susan Wakeford said: "There is a fundamental difference between the two clubs.

"The cricket fields can be used at any other time when not in use by the team but the bowls and tennis club can't be."

Ian Clarke, parish council chairman, said: "We think it is a modest contribution. Nowhere else could the club get a facility like this for £500."

He added: "We have to weigh up costs for the whole community."

He said the increase would add about £1.50 to each member's subscription per year. If the club could not pay the fee, costs would have to be transferred to Hartford residents.

At the parish council meeting on Monday, Mr Clarke agreed the matter would be discussed further.

gsproston@guardiangrp,co,uk