A charity shop facing possible closure because it cannot afford a five-fold rent hike has been offered just £42 off and told to apply for a grant.

The Diamond Taskforce charity shop, in Whitmore Way, Basildon, has done just that and applied for a grant from the very people who have put the rent up - Basildon Council.

The non-profit making shop, which collects donated furniture and delivers it to people who need it, pays £75 a month but was told the bill was going up to £400 from January.

Unable to cope with the rise, staff at the charity and other shops in the road got a 500 name petition and presented it to the council.

However, chairman of the charity and manager of the shop Jan Watling said: "They have reduced it by £500 a year and told us we have to get grants.

"So we have applied for a grant from the council which seems a little odd."

The reduction brings the rent down to £358 but Mrs Watling said: "Where I am supposed to find the other money?"

Basildon Council has previously stated the current rent was agreed because of structural problems causing damp at the time.

The council now believes the problems have diminished and market conditions improved despite claims from the shop there is still a leak problem. The council runs various grants systems and invited the charity to apply.

A spokesman for Basildon Council said: "Council rents are confidential and any support we do give to a charitable organisation is not as transparent and open to view as assistance given through a grant which is determined by a duly elected member of the council who is accountable to the executive board.

"In this way, all applications by a charity or voluntary organisation can be seen by the public and open to scrutiny."

Published Tuesday, July 1, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Echo