Going up (except for polo)

Tory H&F council is putting up its fees and charges for local services by 5% (over twice the rate of inflation).

But some fees are going up much more. If you want to get married in the old Mayor's Parlour at Fulham Town Hall on a Friday or Saturday you face an increase of 92% (and that's after the council has been shamed into passing on the recent cut in VAT). Opt for another room and the increase is a more modest 48%.

Should you prefer to improve your fitness in Hurlingham Park, and you manage to avoid the disruption caused by Cllr Bristow's polo folly, you will have to pay a 60% fee increase to use the training area. If you want to play tennis, the fees are going up 46%. Even local schools get stung - if they want to hire an all weather pitch, they will have to pay a 17% increase.

Amongst the few reductions in fees are those for 'bicycle polo' where the charge goes down 63% to £23.48 per hour. Perhaps this is part of the Tories' drive to bring polo back to the inner city?