Growers' rates win could see pensioners forced from home

A ST SAMPSON'S resident said she would struggle to keep her house now the owner's rate is on the rise.

Collette Dorey, who has lived in Nocq Road for 18 years, said she could not believe a proposal to reduce the rate bills for greenhouses by a fifth and instead increase those of home owners and businesses had been approved.

The retired archivist said that because her husband would also soon be retiring, they would find it very difficult to keep up with the expense of their three-bedroomed house.

'I don't think our rates should have gone up. We pay £240 because we have a garage on our property, but it is just getting too much and we might have to consider selling our house and possibly renting instead,' she said.

Another parishioner, who did not want to be named, was not aware of the parish meeting and thought that if it had been better attended the decision might have been different.