A revised schedule of fees and charges for the hire of parks, open spaces and sports facilities will be introduced by the Isle of Wight Council from today (Tuesday).
The changed fees have been developed to support the ongoing maintenance and management of the council’s parks and recreation facilities, whilst ensuring a fair and transparent approach to hiring council-owned land and sports facilities.
The council currently faces unprecedented financial pressures driven by rising demand, increasing contract costs, and a national funding settlement that leaves the Island at a significant disadvantage compared with similar councils.
Proportionate increases to charges for the hire of parks, open spaces and sports facilities are therefore one of several necessary steps being taken to help bridge a substantial budget gap that cannot be resolved through local efficiencies alone.
The council recognises that any increase in charges will have an impact on clubs, community groups, event organisers and other users of its facilities, and these changes have not been introduced lightly.
Every effort has been made to keep increases to the minimum necessary. However, rising costs associated with grounds maintenance, utilities, inspections, repairs and the upkeep of public facilities mean that sustainably maintaining the existing level of service is no longer possible without revising charges.
While the council did not want to increase costs for users, it has a responsibility to ensure that parks, open spaces and sports facilities remain safe, well-maintained and accessible for residents and visitors both now and in the future.
The revised fees are intended to help protect these valued community assets and reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers at a time of significant budgetary pressure.
New rates have been communicated to existing customers. Please visit our website for more information on how to book: Amenity land hire – Isle of Wight Council.
Events and commercial activities, such as filming, can also booked out at a pro-rata, hourly rate, as it is appreciated that not all events will require the full day.
The following daily hire charges will apply to the Council’s principal parks. Please contact the team via our website for more information on a specific principal park: Amenity land hire – Isle of Wight Council
Event Hire Fees
- Small Events (up to 250 attendees): £250 per day
- Medium Events (250 to 500 attendees): £500 per day
- Large Events (over 500 attendees): £1,500 per day
Commercial Activities
- Filming: £750 per day
- Funfairs and Circuses: £500 per day
Events and filming can also booked out pro-rata at an hourly rate for shorter events or activities.
Administrative Charges
All event applications will be subject to a non-refundable administration fee:
- Small Events: £50
- Medium Events: £75
- Large Events: £100
A further fee may be charged where incomplete or late applications require additional officer time and support.
New charges will also apply to the use of sports pitches and recreation grounds. Please contact the team via our website for more information on a specific sports pitch or recreation ground: Amenity land hire – Isle of Wight Council
Sports Facility Charges
- Season Permit (per team): £1,250
- Line Marking (top-up): £95
- Line Marking (initial or ad-hoc): £190
- Changing Room Cleaning: £40 per clean
- Equipment Contribution: £200 per team, per year
- Ad-hoc Match Hire: £250 per match
- Tournament Hire: £500 per day
And when it’s too expensive to hire the Council will get sweet Fanny Adam’s!
The council tell us they are trying to promote healthy living and then doing their very best to make it unaffordable. Another example of pure incompetence.
How true that is the council couldn’t run a booze up in a brewery
They still cannot stop numpties parking on
double yellow lines.
You did’nt even read past the first paragraph did you.They state why.
“The council currently faces unprecedented financial pressures driven by rising demand, increasing contract costs, and a national funding settlement that leaves the Island at a significant disadvantage compared with similar councils.”
It is the result of 14 years of Tory austerity and Labours failure to fix it. When you spend 50 years chasing the next tax cut this is what you get. And it’ll get worse if reform are the next goverment, they have proven to just be more tory than the tories.
In the 50’s and 60’s the people owned everything, we had cheap housing, cheap water and electric. Cheap transport, cheap heating and cheap homes. Tories and Labour sold it all, and now we have runaway cost of living crisis. Kids today need to be saving over 40k for a deposit whilst paying over £1000 a month for rent. it’s a crime what we have done to the generation coming into work now.
Not to mention the thousands of illegal immigrants which are costing about £7 million per diem.
Not to mention all the benefit claimants born and bred on
the island costing much more.
Tories sold it all. Thank you.
The council face financial pressure
Lol
Yet they allow vehicles to EVADE paying parking charges
by parking on the pavement outside the old tourist information centre opposite Sandown Pier!
I do not feel sorry for the Council. I say good luck to
people EVADING charges.
WHY SHOULD OTHERS HAVE TO PAY,
IT MAKES ONE WONDER IF THERE IS
2 TIER PARKING ON THE ISLAND!
“What is good for the goose is good for the gander”.
budget shortfall because they are funding freeloading parasites that exist off welfare – illegals and locals alike
If they promoted Healthy living they would STOP all the new
McDonald’s opening.
Shortfall? Maybe sack the clown in charge of Finance department. For failing to collect £27 million.
When the person was recruited, council explained his high salary was the going rate!
Expensive, mediocrity a council forte.
Good point, how did it get that out of hand.
Obviously a public sector employee who wouldn’t get a
job in the private sector.
Perhaps the council would do better to charge those on benefits for using the Heights and any other expensive to run sports, pools and leisure facility. As it is, the paying public are not only funding these beings via their taxes, but are subsidising their cushy lifestyle by their ever increasing subscriptions, whilst they, as always, pay nothing.
So any increases for them, means nothing as they pay nothing.
IF they try to justify such as a means of keeping fit, they have all week off to find a fine day to walk, jog, or kick a football to one another, or dare I suggest do some voluntary work. Most as not needing to pay for essentials then have more ‘spending’ cash than working people who do have to pay full council tax and rent, school meals, uniforms, prescriptions, dental care, school, transportation costs and GYM membership. All without the extra’s such as food banks, extra heating allowance, free insulation, and all repairs in homes not only done but paid for by others. Disposable income is often earnt illegally by cash in had saloons, building work, food industry, as they have all the time to flit in and out of such places.
So wake up Council and ‘see’ where OUR money is squandered by your weak woke stance on spongers which is massive, and much self induced by drugs, drink, thus more specials are born, due to damage to the innocents but what others will also costly fund for life.
We have become a country who looks after the jobless much more
than looking after the persons who pay their wages.
Whoever said one is better off working than shirking
was telling whoppers!