POVERTY-stricken Trimley people can look forward to bigger hand-outs this year after a deal was completed to put a mobile phone mast on a charity's land.

By Richard Cornwell

By RICHARD CORNWELL,

Felixstowe editor

richard.cornwell@eveningstar.co.uk

POVERTY-stricken Trimley people can look forward to bigger hand-outs this year after a deal was completed to put a mobile phone mast on a charity's land.

Instead of having a few pounds to give away each year, the charity will now have thousands to help those most in need.

Contracts have been exchanged and the 15-metre phone aerial can now be put in place, which will signal the cash to roll in for the centuries-old Poors Allotment Charity, which owns the site where the mast will stand.

It has taken five months to agree a lease for the land, but Trimley St Mary Parish Council, whose members are trustees for the charity, is now well satisfied with the terms agreed.

The land at Scotland Field, the former allotment site in Trimley St Martin, is being leased to the Hutchison 3G company.

Although the rent has not been disclosed, it is certain to be bringing thousands of pounds for the charity's beneficiaries.

Three years ago schools were charging more than £7,000 a year to site masts on their land and churches receive £10,000 a year for use of their buildings.

The parish council has also insisted that if Hutchison wants to share the site with any other users, then councillors will have to give permission and take a share of the fee, which will bring more money for the charity

There will be a rent review in three years' time, and all lawyers' fees and specialist land agents' have been met by the telecommunications company.

The Poors Allotment Charity has about £250 to hand out each year and uses the money to help those suffering hardship.

Once it was used to buy winter fuel for elderly people but more recently has been used to help Trimley children at the village primary and Orwell High School who cannot afford school trips and other items.