BEACH hut owners and chalet tenants are to hold a second public meeting next week to discuss their next moves in their battle against huge rent rises.

The group, which is planning to form an association, has called on Suffolk Coastal council to rethink its decision and reduce the increases – 12% for huts and 20% for chalets – to the level of inflation.

However, council leader Ray Herring has stated defiantly that there will be no reversal and the authority has now passed its budget and set its council tax for the year ahead.

Leaders of the hut owners and chalet tenants are due to meet Mr Herring on Friday for further talks.

The public meeting will then take place on Tuesday, March 12, at 10.30am at the Felixstowe Trades and Labour Club, High Road West, Walton, Felixstowe.

Julie Downton, of East Bergholt, whose family has a hut in Undercliff Road East, said: “We had hoped to hold a meeting this week but we are still waiting for the council to get back to us with answers to our questions.

“We will be having a private meeting with Mr Herring and then we will be able to report back to the hut owners and chalet tenants and decide what action to take next.

“The meeting may be asked to consider resolutions, and we believe what we have achieved so far has been very positive.”

The council said hut and chalet prices were still good value for money and the authority needed to generate enough income to ensure it could still provide free services such as public toilets, rubbish collection and street cleansing visitors to Felixstowe enjoyed.

One idea to be considered by the owners and tenants is using an association to raise funds to contribute to projects to improve their sites.