ACTIVITY centres in the district have announced they are increasing prices to schools and youth groups from this year.

Essex Outdoors, manager by Essex County Council, has centres in Danbury and Bradwell, as well as outside of the district in Harlow and Mersea.

A decision has been made by the council to increase the charges for using the activity centre, which is popular with schools and youth groups.

Prices will rise by five per cent after the council chose to adopt the increase that will see them bring in an additional £175,000 each year.

The two other options presented to councillors were for no change in price, and for a three per cent increase, in line with inflation. But neither were deemed to have the potential to bring in enough money.

A report, presented to councillors making the decision, said: “The council do not believe that leaving the fees at the current level is a viable option for Essex Outdoors as this will not enable the service to generate additional contributions to the council.

“A three per cent will not achieve the targeted increase in income and will only generate an additional £105,000 in 2019/20. This doesn’t take into account the increased costs of delivering the service through inflation increases.

“The additional income of a five per cent increase will help make Essex Outdoors more financially sustainable and it is anticipated it will generate an additional £175,000 of income in 2019/20.

“Impact in 2018/19 is minimal as the majority of bookings for the year have already been taken, therefore the increased prices will only impact on new bookings during that period.”

The five per cent increase in prices was based on a competitor analysis and considered to be an acceptable increase.

Some aspects of the activities at Bradwell will rise by more than that.

The cost of camping per person per night, for example, will increase by 14 per cent.

While the cost of a sailing experience along the coast will rise by 30 per cent.

The recommendation to hike prices by an average of five per cent was agreed by Essex County Councillor Simon Walsh, and decided earlier this month.