CAMPAIGN: THE only village theatre in the county is refusing to pay a refuse collection bill from West Wiltshire District Council.

The Woolstore Theatre in Codford, near Warminster, is a registered charity which has 14 productions a year. Apart from the annual clean up its household size dustbin is rarely full and is only emptied six times a year.

However, theatre chairman Karen Johnstone has just received a backdated bill for £300.

She said: "It came out of the blue. We've only had a bin since 1997 but we're now expected to pay £100 a year for the privilege."

The Woolstore's rubbish has now been classed as trade or commercial and it is not the only charity to have been targeted.

The village cub group and both churches have received similar bills. Major Don Bartlett, chairman of the 1st Codford Cub Group, fears the demand will bankrupt it.

In a letter challenging the bill, Major Bartlett said: "The Cub Group belongs to an organisation of charitable status. Our income is meagre and is derived, in the main, from weekly subscriptions levied against each member. The money barely meets our outgoings for activity supplies, mandatory insurances, fuel and light and as such we have no resources or ability to meet such a bill."

Mrs Johnstone has also complained to the council which sent a representative to the theatre to address its concerns.

She said: "I showed him around the theatre and explained the situation to him, but we then received a letter that charged us £155.

"Any money we make is put back into the theatre for refurbishment.

"We cannot pay and we refuse to pay until we have talked through the matter sensibly.

"The council needs to look at every individual case. Doing it in a blanket way like this is just ridiculous.

"We don't mind paying a small charge, but it has not been well thought out and there should have been more consultation with parish councils."

Louise Knox, spokesman for West Wiltshire District Council said there is an appeals process and it cannot just guess who can and cannot pay.

She said: "We have had staffing issues and we admit it hasn't been operated well, but we are now trying to rectify this."