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A primary school pupil has pleaded with councillors not to increase allotment fees.

Victoria Lissimore, eight, of Prettygate, Colchester, became one of the youngest speakers ever to address Colchester Council's cabinet when she begged councillors not to raise the rent on her family's plot.

The council wants to cut the amount of money spent subsidising plots on the borough's 19 allotments and allow fees to steadily rise until 2013.

The move could see average rent prices for a plot with water increase from £48.07 to £88.55 by October 2013, while the rates for concessions will more than double from £37.93 to £78.43.

Similarly, rents for allotments without water will also rise from £32.89 to £60.79, or £50.60 for concessions.

Victoria, who grows fruit and vegetables on her family's patch in Irvine Road, said: "I love the allotment.

"I always pick the fruit like blackberries but carrots are my favourite.

"I have collected some caterpillars from the cabbages and am watching them grow at home.

"It's not fair that we may not be able to afford an allotment."

7:32am Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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