VITAL services provided by charities face being scaled back because of plans to force them to pay for water.
Voluntary groups which run community centres, Scout huts and church halls may be hit with thousands of pounds in water charges from 2010. Campaigners say bills could be up to a third of the annual income of some small charities and halls may close.
Under the current Scottish Government scheme, charitable voluntary organisations with an income of less that £50,000 get 80 to 100 per cent exemptions from water charges.
This is set to end in two years and groups warn that even the smallest Scout hall with a single washbasin would face expensive bills. Lucy McTernan, the deputy chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations,
said: "Any loss of water-rates relief for voluntary organisations will be a significant burden for the sector, particularly for smaller organisations and community hubs, such as village halls, many of which may be forced to close.
"We are urging the Scottish Government to show real support for the vital work carried out by community groups and charities by creating a full exemption scheme."
Rhoda Hodgson, secretary of Angus Federation of Village and Community Halls, said: "The income of our halls ranges from £2,000 or £3,000 a year up to £9,000, so these bills would be a significant part of their income."
A Scottish Government consultation on the issue is due to end on 29 February.
The full article contains 256 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
