WHETHER it's hopping on to a treadmill or playing badminton, active youngsters in the Malvern Hills are set to be charged for sports facilities they have until now used for free.

Malvern Hills District Council has been able to allocate free time slots at various sports facilities across the district as a result of financial contributions to sports developments in the area.

These have included facilities such as the astro-turf pitch at Chase High School and Hanley Castle High School sports hall.

The council has used the hours to support the development of junior sports clubs within the facilities' catchment areas by providing them with free usage for an agreed time scale.

However, the council has said without a formal structure in place, the same clubs have been using the free time slots, which is not in keeping with its Open For All policy.

It also argues that the various clubs taking advantage of the scheme have also had no incentive to develop a secure financial position. Therefore, their survival would be in jeopardy if the current facilities were no longer available.

Now, officers are proposing that a new booking procedure be implemented with a pricing structure to allow a wider audience to be able to access the time slots.

The proposed charges are set to be £5, £10 or £15 per hour depending on how the group meets set criteria, resulting in a minimum discount of at least 40 per cent on normal hire charges.

Councillor Clive Smith, responsible for community well-being, said some of the charges would be discretionary. He said: "We're trying to make it as fair and equitable as possible and we'll do our utmost to ensure it's not too much of a calamity for the clubs that are involved."

Any income from the move would support new community projects design-ed to increase physical activity in the district.

The proposal is due to be debated at a meeting of the council's executive committee this evening.