Community groups across the north-east have reacted with dismay to a council decision to drastically increase the cost of hiring town halls.
From next month, all 14 Aberdeenshire Council-owned town halls will see prices rise by up to 50% on 2016/17 rates.
And in a further blow, the local authority has warned there will be further increases in future years, with 2019 prices likely to represent an 80% increase.
It is introducing the new costs in an effort to make up for a shortfall in funding for education and children’s services.
The revelations have, however, led to warnings that groups will abandon the halls in favour of cheaper accommodation, leaving them empty shells incapable of making money.
Others fear they may be forced out of existence if there are no local alternatives.
The first price hike, including VAT, will see the cost of hiring at the standard rate rise from £20 to £30 per hour at venues such as Stonehaven Town Hall and Banchory Town Hall – representing an increase at fifteen times the rate of inflation.
Some community groups are already seeking to move meetings to alternative venues, while others are planning to fight the increases and yet more are agonising over whether to put up their own fees to offset the increased costs.
The new pricing structure was agreed in Spring 2017, however it is understood town hall users were only recently notified of the changes.
In a letter to groups outlining the rises, Claire Lessells from the council’s facilities management department said: “This new pricing structure was approved to allow the council to recover 60% of the costs required to provide education and children’s services by 2020.”
Stonehaven Town Hall is used by 33 local clubs and organisations and locals took to social media to express their outrage over the hikes.
Stonehaven and Lower Deeside councillor Wendy Agnew expressed her own opposition, saying: “I am totally against this.
“If the prices for hire are increased it will only put people off. Lower prices would, in the long run, give you more money.
“The worst case scenario is that people will stop using the hall.
“If you’re putting on a function, with these prices, you’re going to be making a loss.
“There is no way I would want to see it closed down, but I am worried about it.”
Residents in Stonehaven are now considering asking the council to undertake a full impact assessment, which could postpone price rises until a full consultation and impact analysis is carried out.
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council said that there will be further increases in future years, with 2019 prices set to represent an 80% increase on 2016/17 prices.
He added: “There are discounts available for young people, students and people on low incomes, so there are certain groups who may see a decrease in price.”
Chairwoman of the council’s education committee, Gillian Owen, said the education budget needed help due to a lack of grant funding from the Scottish Government.
The Conservative councillor said: “If we got our fair share in grants, we would not need to do this.”
‘Things are hard enough as it is’
David Bremner, chief instructor at Banchory Sooyang Do Martial Arts Club, which uses Banchory Town Hall said: “I’m not happy about it.
“And I’m not happy about how I’ve been advised on it either. The council just sent a letter stating there would be an increase and that was that. It was a bit ‘take it or leave it’.
“I sent a letter in response six weeks ago but haven’t had a reply.
“I’m on holiday at the moment but when I’m back I’ll be taking up the fight again.
“Previously we used the hall three days a week, but I’ve had to move two of the days to Finzean.”
At the privately-owned Finzean Hall, hourly rates are up to half the price that will be charged at the town hall in Banchory under the new rates scheme.
The Eastern Tigers Martial Arts Club is already looking for a new venue for its meetings, with prices at their current venue, the Stewarts Hall in Huntly, subject to price rises.
And William Stuart from Deveron Boxing Club, which uses Macduff Town Hall, said: “We’ve not been told about a rise at all. There’s been no letter.
“If that’s the case it is serious as we’re non-profit and we’ve got kids who can’t afford the £2 entry as it is.
“It’s just a town hall really and if the price goes up a lot then it might put us out the door and finish us.
“Things are hard enough as it is.”