ALLOTMENT holders in Chippenham are outraged by proposals to increase their rent by nearly 70 per cent in September.

The proposed increases by Chippenham Town Council would see the annual rent increase from £15 to £25 in September, and to £35 in September 2003, a total increase of 134 per cent.

Malcolm Welling, 60, who has an allotment and is a warden at the town's Hardenhuish site, said the proposed increase was disgraceful and members of the allotment society would be fighting to stop it.

"The allotments are not in a very good way," he said. "The toilets here have all the panels kicked in.

"I asked for some signs from the council to stop kids playing ball games and they gave us some which said play area.

"Putting the rent up is an insult to the gardeners."

Joe McCarthy, 80, said if the rent went up by that much it might put him off keeping his allotment on.

"I think it's a real shame because let's face it, keeping an allotment is a lot of hard work, especially at Hardenhuish," he said. "A lot of it has been left to grow wild.

"And there's a lot of expense, too, with fertilizer and manure.

"Any increase in the rent would put me off but this is a lot of money."

The council's head of service delivery Ray Lane said: "The allotment society is a very committed group of people that looks after the allotments and does a good job.

"Increasing fees and charges is always going to be sensitive but the rent has not been changed for years and this is to bring it up to the market rate.

"The society is on a joint committee with us. It mustn't forget that it manages the allotments for us. It is not a case of us and them. We work well together."

In Calne, allotment holders pay £5 a year for a regular allotment and £10 for a large plot.

Mr Lane said the increases were still at the proposal stage and the town council was waiting for the allotment society to send in its opinions in writing.

After that the increases will be discussed at the next allotments' committee meeting and allotment holders will have a chance to speak.

Chippenham also has allotment sites at Cricketts Lane, Lordsmead, Ladyfield, Hungerdown Lane and Deansway.

Another allotment holder, Stanley Fuller, of Queens Crescent, said: "These relatively enormous rent increases do not conform to the spirit for which allotments were established.

"Traditionally gardeners are, by nature, peaceful and solitary and not much interested in anything beyond their own plot.

"This translates into an unwillingness to face up to harsh realities and organise politically to defeat the minor bureaucrats and councillors until it is too late.

"The current rent charges are considered reasonable. An increase in rents is unjustified and small-minded and is aimed at tenants it knows will not buck the rise, and who have no right of appeal in any event."

Mr Fuller added: "Working an allotment gives the holder plenty of fresh air and healthy exercise and it is suitable for elderly and disabled people as well as the fighting fit.

"It is good for peace of mind as well as the body. Horticulture has long been used as a therapy in both physical and mental illness and rehabilitation."