Organisations in Abingdon have threatened to boycott council venues in a protest over hire charges.

Well-established branches of the National Trust, Rotary Club and the Townswomen's Guild say they are struggling to pay the rates demanded by the Vale of White Horse District Council.

Some groups are also unhappy with catering arrangements and the cost of wine and corkage charges.

But the Vale insists its charges for the Abbey Hall, Guildhall and Roysse Room continue to represent good value for money and denies receiving any complaints from either individuals or associations.

Abingdon Horticultural Society says it finds it a struggle to pay the £455 demanded to rent the Abbey Hall for a day for its main annual show .

The society's secretary, Ann Marie Pratley, said the Vale's hire charges were hitting small, local societies.

She said: "The sponsorship I raise from local businesses to stage our shows is swallowed up entirely by the cost of hiring the Abbey Hall and we are now looking for an alternative venue. The rooms for hire could become white elephants."

National Trust branch chairman Dennis Burles said: "The hire charges have gone up more than we can justify to our members.

"We meet six times a year during the winter months and the profits we make from summer outings is going straight out into paying hire charges. We are thinking of moving elsewhere."

But not everyone is complaining.

Several Masonic Lodges in Abingdon make use of the buildings and qualify for a discount of 25 per cent in hire fees like other non profit-marking community groups and charities.

The secretary of the Abbey Lodge and Abbey Mark Lodge, Len Freeman, said: "On the whole I think we get a fairly good deal."

Cllr Bob Johnston, chairman of the leisure and arts committee, said: "There are concessions for charities and non-profit making organ- isations. It is a much fairer system now for users and council taxpayers and I believe it represents a pretty good deal. Bookings this year look very healthy and talk of our facilities becoming a white elephant are ridiculous."