The controversial hike to North Huron's recreation fees is now driving user groups away, council heard this week.
Blyth Ladies Baseball sent a delegation to Monday's meeting, asking for fees to be reduced for the upcoming season.
The league has rented two ball diamonds in Blyth once a week in the past, but Chastity Bos said the increased cost for the upcoming season was greater than they could afford.
"The total amount we paid in 2023 was $1,264.26 and the amount for 2024 is to be $2,032.16, including the insurance you require," said Bos. "When we first questioned the rate increase, we were told many times it was a 17 per cent increase, when in fact, it is a 61 per cent increase."
Bos said the town's rates aren't even in the same ballpark as surrounding communities.
"We understand that costs have gone up and rate increases are inevitable. If the increase was truly the 17 per cent, that would be an increase of $214.92 over last year, and those numbers we could work with. But an increase of $767.90 is unreasonable, when that is the total cost of the other two diamonds we rent for the summer."
The league also rents diamonds in Londesborough and Holmesville.
Councillor Anita van Hittersum reiterated a line council repeated throughout discussion of the rate hike: they'd rather charge more for recreation because so many out of towners were using the facilities.
However, co-presenter Amanda Anderson pushed back on that claim.
"Our facilities are used by many people out of the area and we still have to look after the taxes from out residents," said van Hittersum.
"The Blyth ball diamonds are not used by many people out of the area," said Anderson.
"If you have tournaments," countered van Hittersum.
But when Anderson asked how many tournaments had been booked this summer, council could not provide an answer.
Ultimately, council received the presentation for information, but extended no olive branch to the league.
In a follow up days later, Bos said the league will not be playing in Blyth, and instead they'll be taking their games to Benmiller and Clinton this summer.
"It is sad really," she said. "We have great facilities and they will not be used."