FITNESS fans across the New Forest are facing new leisure centre price hikes.

But leisure bosses say they have kept rises to a minimum as they try to keep user pouring through sport centre doors.

District council leisure boss Cllr John Hutchins said that with the forthcoming VAT increase in January, prices at the council’s health and leisure centres would come down in real terms.

Prices at the centres in New Milton, Lymington, Ringwood, Applemore and Totton will remain as they are with some exceptions.

They are: Adult swims which go up 15p an hour; group and casual use of exercise suites up 50p and 20p; GP referral fitness assessments up 5p or 10p, pool hall hire up £5; badminton up 50p and sports hall use up £2, £2.50 or £3.

Also up for discussion were increases for the council’s moorings and slipway at Keyhaven and beach huts at Barton, Hordle Cliff, Milford and Calshot.

Beach hut owners at Barton, Hordle Cliff and Milford face rent increases ranging from £12.77 to £27.33, leading to total site rents ranging from £337.02 to £495.32 per year.

The increases are larger than those for huts at Calshot where, depending on size, they range from £4.26 to £5.11, leading to annual rents ranging from £331.06 to £439.15.

Keyhaven sailors will pay £27 extra for deep water moorings making the total charge £630 a year. A new launching fee of £2 a time is to be be charged to canoeists.

People launching boats between 16ft and 20ft will face an annual increase of £105 making a total £190.

Anyone with craft exceeding 20ft will have to shell out £300, an additional £188, for a season ticket.