A GROUP of people in Whiddon Down are mounting a campaign to stop business rates being charged on village halls.

Secretary of Whiddon Down Village Hall Committee Liz Cannon said it was not only sports club who were being put under pressure by West Devon Borough Council to pay rates.

'Like many small villages trying to keep a hall running is major task,' she said. 'At present we are trying to raise £100,000 to bring it up to date and meet Government legislation.'

Miss Cannon said the committee had received its first business rate bill last year which it had appealed against.

'It appeared we slipped through the net previously,' she said. 'We are still waiting the outcome of an appeal but in the meantime we have received another bill.'

She said this year's business rates started off at £1,300 but that amount had come down to about £450.

'We are a charity struggling hard to find the money to maintain the hall let alone the business rates. Residents of the villages are effectively paying twice — for their own council tax and business rates on the hall.'

As reported in the Times last week sports clubs in West Devon are facing 'crippling rates' bills because of reductions in discretionary rate relief.

Miss Cannon said as far as she was aware West Devon was the only council charging business rates on village halls and sports clubs.

'It is not as if we even get anything for the money,' she added. 'The council will not take the rubbish away or cut the grass. We get absolutely nothing from them.'

She added like sports clubs the rate relief was discretionary and the council could waive business rates on halls completely if it wanted to.

'We are just concerned that the cost will keep rising,' she said. 'It is not a problem particular to us — there are many hall committees in the same boat.'

The hall committee is urging other communities to get in touch if they would like to become involved in sending a petition to the council. Chairman Pete Cannon can be contacted on 01647 231318.

West Devon Borough Council treasurer Lesley Halton said registered charities automatically received 80 per cent rate relief but they could apply for another 20 per cent relief.

'Rate relief is discretionary and the case will be looked at by an appeal panel,' she said.

'The last appeal was held in January and because of the business with the sports club at the moment the appeal process has been delayed,' she said.

She added she was surprised the appeal by Whiddon Down Village Hall Committee did not meet the January deadline because the bill was sent out last April.

'What people forget is we do not set the business rates — it is the Government which decides how much should be paid — we are just a collection agency,' she said.