Clubs at Hollingworth Lake face “unthinkable” price hikes

Sailing at Hollingworth Lake

Clubs which operate at Hollingworth Lake are concerned for their future as they face massive rises in the ground rent fees they pay the Council.

Charges are set to rise to £13,500, for one club that is an increase from just over £200.

Hollingworth Lake, referred to by many as “the jewel in the crown” is used by a rowing club, a sailing club and the sea cadets.

The groups pay a fee each year to use the lake – a fee which hasn’t changed since the 1960s.

Concerns over the price hike were raised at a full council meeting held last week.

Councillor Ann Metcalfe, asked the Cabinet Member for Corporate Management and Economic Regeneration, Councillor Peter Williams, if he was aware of the hike.

Councillor Metcalfe asked: “…is he aware that three of the organisations who use Hollingworth Lake, the number one tourist attraction in the borough, are being asked to pay a rent of £13,500 each?

“Currently these organisations have paid peppercorn rents and such a significant increase could see them disappear, removing the yachts and sailboats and some of the attractions of the Lake.”

Councillor Williams, also deputy leader of Rochdale Council, said the leases expired some years ago.

He added: "One group pays around £260 per year, which in 1962 could have bought you a small terraced house.”

Ian John from the Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club said the club was both “shocked” and “amused” when the figure came through.

He described the amount as “unthinkable.”

Mr John said he just doesn’t know how the club will finance the payment of the rent.

He added: “Forty years of inflation doesn’t equate to this.

“It is going to have a big impact on the club.

“There are three fantastic clubs on Hollingworth Lake and we are going to be in dire straights if we have to find this kind of money.”

Mr John said the club is keen to support rowing and put money into the sport and support the “fantastic” kids at the club – but the ground rent may mean they are unable to do that; a situation they don’t want to happen.

Mark Widdup, Head of Environmental Management at Rochdale Borough Council said: “We want to set rates that are reasonable and will be discussing the charges with the groups involved individually. We have kept annual fees on the lake very low for many years, but when new leases are drawn up we have to make sure they are set at a more realistic rate.”