ALLOTMENT fees in Dorchester will increase by about £2 next year – but even then the annual fee will be less than £1 a week.

Town councillors have agreed a £1 increase on rental, no matter what the plot size, and another £1 on the water charge, for its 331 allotments.

The council say that for a typical plot holder charges will rise from £28.50 for the year, to £30.50 while for the largest plots charges will go up from £46.50 to £48.50.

The water charge does not apply to the Frome Terrace allotments where there is no water supply.

The new charges will be introduced in January.

The council has been gradually increasing fees over a number of year so that the cost of allotments is not subsidised by council taxpayers.