COUNCIL bosses have defended a motion to ask charities to pay to use Promenade Park for events during a heated public meeting.

The Standard reported last week that Maldon District Council wants to set a hire rate for all events held in the park, which would see events of more than 100 people be charged a maximum of £222 to use the park.

The proposal was discussed at a full council meeting on Thursday.

Council leader Adrian Fluker said: “There are companies that come that are professional fundraisers. They know how it works and they take 20 per cent of the top, they are running a business and their business makes money.”

Several councillors were critical of the way council officers handled the proposals, with some stating some charities could be discriminated against due to how big the event was.

Flo Shaughnessy, of Maldon west, argued that Cabbie Day, which used Promenade Park for the first time this year, should not be charged at all.

Tony Shrimpton, ward member for Maldon north, said: “We have the Maldon Mud Race which pays to have people clear away after itself, they pay for all the staff who control the car park and entrances.

“I happen to live across the road from the organiser, and I can tell you should this go through you will have him demanding why they are being discriminated against when they pay for clean ups themselves.”

Emma Foy, director of resources for the council, stated the money was required to recover costs the council makes to clean up after the events.

She said: “For huge events in the park, costs are put on the district council to clean up the event afterwards. With the recent Smoke and Fire festival, it took three days to clear the park after the event.

“The charge is plainly cost recovery. We have significant cost savings to make, it’s very important to make these charges to ensure the cover of these events.”

Sue White, of Purleigh ward, said: “My surprise is that the council picks up the cost to clean the land, there’s always a clause for the event organiser to return the field in the condition they found it in and put down a deposit.”

Miriam Lewis, of Heybridge west ward, said: “The way that this has been described is like we are going to charge them rent for being there. Why isn’t it called cost recovery? If it was, the people of Maldon would accept that.

“I really think this council must do a better job of communicating with the public.”

The motion was eventually passed, though the charges are not expected to be introduced until 2019.