It will cost more to play football, tennis and bowls this year, after Maidstone council decided to increase charges by an average of 11 per cent.

The charge for paying tennis on a council court will rise from £6.70 to £7.30 from April 1, up nine per cent.

An adult bowls season ticket rises from £62 to £68, up 10 per cent. A football pitch will cost £64 instead of £59.20, up eight per cent.

But the monthly charge for mooring a boat on the Medway will rise from £60 to £75, up 25 per cent.

The charge for launching a hot air balloon from council land will rise from £40 to £45 plus VAT, up 14 per cent.

The charge for hiring a rugby pitch will rise from £42.70 to £47.50, up 11 per cent.

A report prepared by the council’s parks and open spaces officer Jason Taylor contrasted Maidstone’s fees with those charged by eight other boroughs and warned the cabinet member for leisure and culture, Cllr Brian Moss (Con), that the new charges would “make Maidstone’s facilities among the most expensive.”

But Mr Taylor advised: “When prices have been increased in the past, users have objected considerably. A similar reaction should be expected if this increase is implemented. However, alternative sports facilities in the borough are limited, so users may have no choice but to use our facilities if the increase is implemented.”

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