PRICES at Minehead's Aquasplash are to rise by up to 12 per cent in a bid to boost income.

West Somerset District Council's cabinet approved the increases on Monday, hoping they will earn the council an extra £18,000 a year.

Members considered the ten to 12 per cent hike in fees was overdue but decided not to increase the rates for people on income support.

The recommendations had come before the cabinet at its meeting last month but were passed on to the health and welfare policy review group for its views.

Surrey-based consultants Strategic Leisure, commissioned by the council to identify future options for Aquasplash, have advised the council to look for improved takings of £58,000.

The first report by the consultants cost West Somerset District Council £5,475 and a second has already run up a bill of £2,000.

In the price shake-up, charges have been revised throughout the complex, including the increasingly popular spa and gym.

Adult non-member swimmers now face a charge of £2.75 to use the pool - up from £2.50 - while a three month membership has risen from £40 to £44.

Gold card holders will now pay £38.50 a month for unlimited access, an increase of £3.50, while a three month gold card membership has jumped to £99 from £90.

There will also be price rises for use of the gym or spa, sunbeds, swimming lessons and aquafit and aerobics in water.

Council vice-chairman Cllr Stan Taylor said: "I think it is fair to say there has been a £10,000 increase through the door in the last year and that will show on the receipts."

He said the number of users for the gym had risen significantly last year but the leisure pool was failing to attract swimmers.

"The gym is becoming not completely full but it cannot increase at the rate it did last year," he said.

Cllr Simon Stokes, who attended the cabinet meeting, said he was concerned at the amount of time and money being spent on consultants.

"We all know what the perceived problems are at Aquasplash and I think we have to stop this navel gazing," he said.

"I do, however, worry that this increase is going to bring us £18,000 because it is a strange way of going about getting people through the door by putting prices up."

Cllr Keith Ross, who proposed that the price rise should not include those on income support, said he agreed that the increase did not seem the right way to attract customers.

"It's not the best way but this is the first rise for about three years and a dribble of price rises is better than a big rise all at once," he said.