JUST what is happening with the Brucefield allotments in Lochgelly.

We have received our bill for 2018 which has doubled in price, a rental increase of 100 per cent (200 per cent if the council supplies a shed).

This price rise is nothing short of scandalous and affects those with larger allotments, the council seems to have given no consideration to the fact that some of the allotments are leased by those on low incomes, pensioners, unemployed, disabled people, and is also ignoring the fact that allotments are meant to be a social benefit and a recreational activity, not a means of collecting money through extortionate rents. Why are there no concessions?

Two allotment areas I checked, in Edinburgh and Aberdeen, both give concessions of 50 percent, yet Fife Council offers nothing in the way of concessions.

The Allotment Act provides that councils shall let allotments at a rent that a tenant can reasonably be expected to pay.

This 100 per cent increase is far from reasonable. The council, in managing these allotments, has only succeeded in causing outrage and anger by the plotholders and I believe also those in Kelty and at the Auchterderran Road site in Lochgelly.

Council rents do not rise by 100 per cent, those using libraries, recreational play areas, parks etc pay nothing at all, so why are the allotment holders being targeted in such a discriminatory manner.

Some allotment holders are paying over £100 just now and next year they will have to pay double that amount.

This ridiculous rental price is not encouraging those with large allotments to keep them.

A 100 per cent price hike is appalling and the actions of those managing the allotments must surely warrant further investigation, as I have discovered that the council, cannot by law, raise rents of allotment holders in isolation of other recreational activities, as this is a discriminatory practice and is therefore surely unlawful.

I have read of one county court ruling against a certain council when they tried to raise rents by 60 per cent, stating that councils cannot increase rents just to cover costs.

Yet here we are having a council demanding a 100 per cent price increase from the elderly and disabled. The situation is not in any way acceptable and I would hope that the local authority has a re-think regarding these extortionate plot rental prices.

Can I end by saying that whoever came up with these extortionate price increases should be hanging their head in shame.

PLOTHOLDER,

Lochgelly.