Angry poppy sellers told to pay for stall in Leicestershire market
Poppy sellers are fuming after being told by council bureaucrats that they must pay to raise money for their annual appeal.
Today Harborough District Council was being put under pressure to waive the charges it insists the town branch of the Royal British Legion should pay.
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Legion member Brian Marshall on the poppy stall in the Market Hall, Market Harborough
The charity wants a stall at Market Harborough's indoor market for five days this week, to raise cash for the Poppy Appeal which helps injured servicemen and women and their families. The council said it would let the Legion have one day free.
Poppy appeal organiser, Dave Pryor, said: "We are all volunteers and, last year, we collected about £27,000, thanks to the generosity of people.
"But we are saddened by the attitude facing us while taking a stall in the indoor market.
"We believe the money the council is demanding should be going to those for whom we collect.
"Things are tougher this year, with the recession biting, so we can ill afford to have to pay for the stall. We would also ask, why shouldn't that money go to the appeal as opposed to the council?"
Last year stallholders on the indoor market had a whip-round to pay the council charges.
Brian Marshall, who works on the stall, said: "It is a shame we have to pay the council but the other stallholders were very generous in paying for us last year."
Legion fund-raisers said they did not want to assume stallholders would pay again.
The Legion is being charged £16 for last Saturday, £12 and £14 for two Tuesdays and Friday.
Shopper Wendy Astill, who lives in Market Harborough said: "I could not believe it when I heard the council was charging for the stall, especially as there are always spare stalls.
"The charges should be waived. The Legion does a great job for our service personnel and their dependants.
"The council should waive the charges."
District councillor Pete Callis said: "It does appear mean to charge the poppy sellers at this time when our service personnel are in Afghanistan.
"But the council does have a concessionary rate for charities, which the Royal British Legion, is being charged and the organisation is being given one Saturday free."
A spokesman for the council said: "The indoor market is used by several charities.
"We do not discriminate from one charity to another, but do offer all charities a reduced rate to hire stalls."
29 Comments
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by Steve, Loughborough
Thursday, November 05 2009, 9:14AM
“If it was free fro one charity it would have to be free for all.
regardless of how popular they are with the public.
I imagine the small charge, is ofset by the increase in footfall and sales of poppys. (27,000 last year.)”
by Ted, Stoneygate
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 3:52PM
“Cheer up Paul, it might never happen. Its due to people like you and others why they have to start collecting earlier, people have forgotten the sacrifices made by others and are not donating as much or at all.”
by j, leic
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 3:51PM
“"I wonder how many of the councillors who support this charge have seen active service,or lost a relative in action.....or are they just a load of "jobsworths"
Terry Cooper, Veteran, Hathern "
Terry, instead of "wondering" why not actually do some research? The most recent leader of Harborough District Council was a high ranking ex Naval officer who served in the Falklands. Does *THAT* answer your smug little question?”
by Paul, Leicester
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 3:45PM
“Great work for a worthwhile cause but if you want the stall, pay for it if not dont use it, no one is forcing you. Also the appeal seems to be getting earlier and earlier each year. Can we keep it to a couple of weeks before rememberence sunday and not from the end of september!”
by Kulgan, Crydee
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 3:45PM
“As an ex-member of the British Army (22 years and seen Active Service) and as a card carrying member of the Royal British Legion, I think that if they charge other charities these concession rates, then the Poppy collectors should pay them also.
Personally, empty stalls should be used by charities for free but that is my humble opinion.”