Owners of a play centre have launched a petition to halve their business rates.

RV’s Fun Factory, in Honeywood Parkway, Whitfield, says custom is usually worse during the summer.

The business is said to flourish in the winter, but deteriorate in the warmer weather, when children are more likely to be outdoors.

At present the company pays more than £10,000 a year in business rates – a sum that it struggles to pay along with other bills.

Since opening in 2008, when the recession was in full swing, owners Ruth Clist and Vanessa Tibbles have applied to Dover District Council for the same hardship grant year after year, getting their first response a couple of months ago.

They say the council told them in a letter that the centre was not an essential part of the community and was not a benefit to local taxpayers.

The owners are now trying to get the community behind them and have launched a petition.

A post on its Facebook page said: “We have asked DDC for a 50% discount as a hardship grant.

“But the council have said that we are not a benefit to local tax payers. We at RV’s disagree with this. We don’t want to close and it won’t come to that, but we need your support.”

Ms Clist said: “Hundreds have signed our petition already.

“The council doesn’t think we employ enough people or that taxpayers would be happy if we used the money as relief. We have to save up in the winter to carry us over the summer.”

The company has replied to the council explaining why they disagree with the outcome.

It reads: “With the rising costs of utilities, food and service charges we find it really difficult to make ends meet.

'With the rising costs of utilities, food and service charges we find it really difficult to make ends meet.' - Owners.

“Having this weather also has a detrimental effect on our footfall.

“We have asked for many years for relief and given you accounts and you have never replied until now. We have paid £100 per week all that time and you have never written to us demanding money except on our annual letter telling us what our yearly rates are.

“Please would you reconsider your refusal for relief as we want to carry on in the area and service a community that needs us.”