redkingjoe
1st June 2005, 04:29
Massive 500% price hike for badminton players
PRICES have been hiked 500 percent at Peterhead Community Centre.
A pensioner has seen the cost of her weekly game of badminton go from 60p to £3.
Cheap charges for the new fitness suite are a further slap in the face she feels.
Isobel Westland (62) has complained to Aberdeenshire Council and is awaiting a response.
The Peterhead woman, of Teal Court, has used the courts for more than ten years with her 55-year-old playing partner, Evelyn Stewart.
She said: "You wouldn't really expect to be priced out of fitness by your council.
"I can't believe the hire of a court for an hour costs £6 when a full day on the rowing machines will only be £3.40. It's absolutely absurd."
Use of the courts used to be charged per person - but is now charged per court.
Over 50s concessions have also been removed.
Mrs Westland said: "If we were both over 60 we would get the court cheaper.
"But because one of us is under 60 we have to pay the adult price.
"There is a group of four adults that regularly use the courts at the same time as us. They are now better off because they pay £1.50 each, while we pay £3."
Mrs Stewart has stopped playing badminton in protest at the prices. Mrs Westland feels she has to continue.
She said: "I don't want to give it up now because if I stop I won't find the enthusiasm to go back.
"It keeps me active and that is what I thought the council was encouraging. What they have done goes completely against that."
Aberdeenshire Council's Buchan Area Manager, Chris White, wrote to Mrs Westland acknowledging her complaint.
She has been told they will respond within 28 days. Community recreation team leader Terry Parker is now directly dealing with the complaint. He was unavailable for comment as the Buchan Observer went to press. Peterhead Community Centre is just weeks away from opening a new £300,000 fitness suite, with more than 20 exercise machines.
Monthly fees are going to be set at £18 - meaning heavy users would be getting a full day at the gym for much less than an hours hire of a badminton court.
Mrs Westland said: "All we are getting are a few nets and a roof over our head.
"They will be getting brand new fitness machines."
Major repair work is ongoing at Peterhead's Swimming Pool, part of the community centre.
That facility is expected to reopen on July 5.
SOURCE:(http://www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/2005/Week_22/news/badminton_hike.asp)
One thing that makes badminton less popular is the price to play: the court, coach(if serious), birds, racket and strings. my son plays a lot of volleyball in or after school now. i need to pay nothing for the coach, courts....also think about football, basketball...
PRICES have been hiked 500 percent at Peterhead Community Centre.
A pensioner has seen the cost of her weekly game of badminton go from 60p to £3.
Cheap charges for the new fitness suite are a further slap in the face she feels.
Isobel Westland (62) has complained to Aberdeenshire Council and is awaiting a response.
The Peterhead woman, of Teal Court, has used the courts for more than ten years with her 55-year-old playing partner, Evelyn Stewart.
She said: "You wouldn't really expect to be priced out of fitness by your council.
"I can't believe the hire of a court for an hour costs £6 when a full day on the rowing machines will only be £3.40. It's absolutely absurd."
Use of the courts used to be charged per person - but is now charged per court.
Over 50s concessions have also been removed.
Mrs Westland said: "If we were both over 60 we would get the court cheaper.
"But because one of us is under 60 we have to pay the adult price.
"There is a group of four adults that regularly use the courts at the same time as us. They are now better off because they pay £1.50 each, while we pay £3."
Mrs Stewart has stopped playing badminton in protest at the prices. Mrs Westland feels she has to continue.
She said: "I don't want to give it up now because if I stop I won't find the enthusiasm to go back.
"It keeps me active and that is what I thought the council was encouraging. What they have done goes completely against that."
Aberdeenshire Council's Buchan Area Manager, Chris White, wrote to Mrs Westland acknowledging her complaint.
She has been told they will respond within 28 days. Community recreation team leader Terry Parker is now directly dealing with the complaint. He was unavailable for comment as the Buchan Observer went to press. Peterhead Community Centre is just weeks away from opening a new £300,000 fitness suite, with more than 20 exercise machines.
Monthly fees are going to be set at £18 - meaning heavy users would be getting a full day at the gym for much less than an hours hire of a badminton court.
Mrs Westland said: "All we are getting are a few nets and a roof over our head.
"They will be getting brand new fitness machines."
Major repair work is ongoing at Peterhead's Swimming Pool, part of the community centre.
That facility is expected to reopen on July 5.
SOURCE:(http://www.buchanie.co.uk/archived/2005/Week_22/news/badminton_hike.asp)
One thing that makes badminton less popular is the price to play: the court, coach(if serious), birds, racket and strings. my son plays a lot of volleyball in or after school now. i need to pay nothing for the coach, courts....also think about football, basketball...