Sparks are set to fly tonight when Southend councillors try to increase the cost of beach hut leases - by as much as 76 per cent.

More than 85 beach hut owners packed into a meeting in March expressing anger at the huge hike, which officers claim simply bring Southend in line with fees in other east coast resorts.

Owners of huts in Shoebury are set to be charged £125 a year - compared to £71.03 at present - and people with Thorpe Bay huts are faced with bills of £153, when before they paid just £87.43.

These new charges are exclusive of rates and come as the tenants' six-year leases expire at the end of December.

They also have to pay £30 to cover the council's legal costs and £15 surveyors' fees to set up the new rental agreement.

An amendment put forward by councillor Howard Briggs (Con, Belfairs) proposed the leases should rise 30 per cent, was defeated last time by one vote.

He asked for the matter to be referred to full council which meets tonight.

Leisure bosses claim that 414 tenants, around 84 per cent all tenants, have paid the £45 charge for the new agreements to be drawn up. A further 49 tenants, representing some 12 per cent have complained about the increase, either verbally or in writing.

Just one has given up his hut, saying he is unwilling to pay the extra cost. However, one beach hut owner, Eric McMahon, said today: "There are many people who have paid the £45 but are not happy about the rise.

"We were told the £45 must be paid within eight weeks, otherwise we would lose our leases. That's blackmail."

The council owns the leasehold to 491 huts along the foreshore. Some - those which are leased to charities - will not be subject to the increases.

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