A council is set to increase fees for some services at a Suffolk camping and caravan site by five percent to offset rising operational costs and maintain a "high level of service".
East Suffolk Council's cabinet has approved the proposed changes to fees and charges at Southwold Harbour and Caravan and Campsite.
In a report prepared for the cabinet meeting on January 7 by James Butler, the council's interim estates manager for resorts, rising inflation is highlighted with operational costs remaining high due to wage pressures and maintenance expenses.
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The report said: "The proposed fee increase will generate additional revenue to cover rising operational costs, helping to maintain high-quality services at Southwold Harbour and Campsite.
"Without this increase, there is a risk of reduced service quality or the need for higher price hikes in future."
The rise will affect charges for visitor mooring fees, stage use, storage ashore and holidaymaker fees.
The changes were supported by the council's cabinet.
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At the meeting, councillor David Beavan, who represents Reydon, Southwold and Walberswick, backed the proposal, which was presented by the council's deputy leader Paul Ashton.
Mr Ashton said the changes were "driven entirely by increasing costs," adding that while inflation in September stood at 2 to 3% there was a certain amount of catching up with previous inflation rises coming through in increased costs incurred by the harbour and campsite.
He said: "I would like to support what the councillor said. We have got a lot of work to do on the harbour to make sure it survives with threats of sea level rising and bits are falling off. We really need to charge proper rates to keep our income up unfortunately."
READ MORE: Caravan owners at Southwold unhappy with East Suffolk plans
The Southwold Harbour camping and caravan site is set to be redeveloped to improve the degrading infrastructure and bring in more revenue from the caravan plots to support the harbour.
Last year, this newspaper reported concerns from caravan owners at the site about changes to the licensing model, which could see a 20 year lease introduced - "too long" for some owners.
They feared being "displaced" by the plans.
READ MORE: Southwold news
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