Newport allotment fee talks deferred by council

Newport Town Council put forward proposals to increase allotment fees in the town for non-residents by nearly £10.

Prices would also go up by 76p for Newport residents and £2.33 for concessionary users. The Allotment Society asked the town council to reconsider the increase at its full council meeting on Wednesday night.

The authority welcomed the proposal put forward by the society and agreed to look at the fees again before deciding anything.

Councillor Peter Scott said: "Do we need to decide a fee tonight?

"I think we should defer the decision, because if we do not need to make it tonight, we should reconsider. Whatever the increase is, it should be made fairly."

Councillor Eric Carter agreed with Councillor Scott, saying the council should take into account the residents' views.

He said: "It seems to me there may be one or more residents who have concerns about this issue.

"I think we should be taking into account what the residents have to say, and I am not convinced we have done this so far."

However, Councillor Phil Norton disagreed saying the council should stick with the fees put forward.

He said: "I think we should agree on the proposal and stick with the current fees we have discussed.

"So I disagree with what the other members of the council are saying."

The public gallery at the At the meeting, which was held at the Guildhall on the High Street, the public gallery was full of members from the society.

Speaking after the meeting, allotment society member Graham Hobson said he was very pleased with the decision.

He said: "It went better than I had expected on Wednesday night, and I am very pleased with the council's decision.

"The society will be in talks with the council about the fees."

A decision on the fees does not need to be made until April 1 and the new price would not come into effect for current users until October.