Anger at rise in fee; COUNCIL: Property bill row.

Byline: Chris Henwood

DUDLEY residents and traders are continuing their fight against an "outrageous" hike in council fees that has seen some bills rocket by more than 3,000 per cent.

They're keeping up their campaign against a rise in a local authority administration fee, which has seen more than 500 people sign a petition in protest.

Until this year, people who bought leasehold properties from Dudley Council, which retained the freehold property rights, paid the authority a percentage fee for working out the costs of servicing the property.

This administration fee was worked out as ten per cent of the service charge, which covers things like repairs, mowing lawns and changing lightbulbs.

However, the local authority scrapped the percentage fee this year in favour of a fixed one, at pounds 100, which still comes on top of the service charge.

One trader hit by the rise is Dudley hairdresser Graham Middleton.

"It's ridiculous," said the 61-year-old, who runs Graham's Hair and Beauty in Kent Street Arcade. "It's just another cost we could do without."

Local MP Ian Austin has called on constituents to sign up to the petition through his office: "During this tough economic climate people need more help, not huge increases like this on their bills."

A spokesman for Dudley Council said the change was needed because administration costs were not being met under the old, percentage fee system.

For a copy of the petition call 01384 342504.

CAPTION(S):

Battle: Graham Middleton.