REBELLION is stirring once more in a seaside resort as beach hut owners are being urged to write to the council to complain about soaring rates.The owners of the 1,008 beach huts in Frinton have seen their rates rise by 60% in the last three years.

REBELLION is stirring once more in a seaside resort as beach hut owners are being urged to write to the council to complain about soaring rates.

The owners of the 1,008 beach huts in Frinton have seen their rates rise by 60% in the last three years.

Now the Association of Frinton Beach Hut Owners has decided enough is enough and the committee is urging members to complain about the increases to Tendring District Council.

Membership secretary Ray West said: “We have had a 60% rise in the last three years. Our members don't like this. What disturbs us is it's accompanied by a reduction in services. We used to have diving boards and diving floats and our experienced beach wardens have been replaced by vacation students.”

Mr West added: “We have encouraged members to write to the council to complain about the rise in rates and reduction in services.”

The committee is hoping representatives from Tendring District Council will attend their annual general meeting on June 12.

Beach hut prices in the exclusive resort start at £10,000 and go up to £25,000 for huts on stilts along The Walings , overlooking Frinton Golf Club. This year the rates bill due to the council is £145.

This week hut owners were furious when vandals went on a seafront rampage and smashed the banisters on 15 cabins.

Len Brooks, treasurer of Frinton Residents' Association, who owns a beach hut, said: “There's increasing anger about the whole thing.”

He claimed the council last year made a £150,000 surplus from beach hut rates across the district, which this year he estimates will go up to £180,000 to £190,000.

“We felt that we were already making a significant contribution to the district council,” said Mr Brooks.

A Tendring District Council spokesman said: "From our point of view, we are attending meetings with all of the beach hut users' associations at their convenience in the next week or two to explain the fee increases and to discuss how we can be of further assistance.

"However, the matter of vandalism is a matter for the police and is completely beyond our control."