Stonehaven community groups have criticised the news they might have to pay “three times as much” to hire their popular town hall.
Aberdeenshire Council is hiking up the hourly rates for Stonehaven Town Hall for the 2016-17 financial year as part of region-wide changes to its charging schemes.
However, local organisations who use the venue for a variety of gigs, shows, plays and festivals are questioning the decision, which has taken then unawares.
Locals are concerned that many not-for-profit events would be classed as “commercial” endeavours, should they include a licensed bar – and no longer be available at concessionary rates.
However local businesswoman, Chris Stirk, said many of the events staged at the hall should not be treated as commercial, as they often invested money back into the community and local charities.
She organises gigs at the town hall through the Ma Cameron’s Community Fund, and recently hosted a stage version of Fame, which featured locals.
Ms Stirk added: “It feels like they want to shut down the hall. Why would you pay £300 to get a basic hall when you could go somewhere else?
“I am doing it [the shows] for nothing, I don’t get paid for it.”
Charlie West, chairman of the Stonehaven Folk Festival, described the town hall as “the heart” of the popular event – which is approaching its 28th year next month.
He estimated that hiring the hall could cost “three times as much” from next year onwards.
Mr West added the local authority had “reinterpreted the whole way of booking the hall”.
He continued: “It is a little underhand if they want to change this. This has come to light, purely because one of the other users had been chasing confirmation for 2017.
“It is quite a significant change in the pricing structure. I think the problem is we are aware there is a change and we are concerned they are reinterpreting the rules, which they haven’t discussed with anybody.”
Commercial rates for hiring the main hall and stage are scheduled to rise to £58.73 an hour.
Aberdeenshire Council’s head of property and facilities management, Allan Whyte, said: “Where a company, association, group or individual charges a separate fee or an admission charge to gain entrance to an activity in our halls, and specifically where a licensed bar is provided, this places the let on a very clear commercial footing and the charge we make reflects this.
“The charges we do apply in such instances are still considered value for money and we are always open to discussing any difficulties user groups have with our charge proposals.”
