PENSIONERS are fuming over a price hike on garage rents which has left them paying double.

Now many have cancelled their leases in disgust.

Retired electrical engineer, 78-year-old William Hatton, who has lived in his Beech Road home since 1974 and bought his former council owned property rented a garage at the back.

But he was appalled by the two weeks notice to double his direct debit from £7 per week to £14 per week or get out.

He gave a week's notice immediately but to add insult to injury, the housing association issued him with a letter saying his rent payments would continue until he returned the keys to the car port - even though he was never issued with any.

Although now all sorted, he says he feels very let down by the manner in which he has been treated.

He said: "Quite frankly I think their actions are terrible. I feel very betrayed by it."

The garages at the back of Beech Road were built by the former Alderley Urban and District Council nearly 40 years ago and handed over to Peaks and Plains Housing Trust when the council housing stock was transferred last year.

Tenants have their rent protected, but those who bought their homes, or who simply rent a garage were hit with the huge increase in rent.

Bill Aymes, age 63, of Oakfield Road, also quit his lease after 25 years in disgust.

He said: "When they were talking about transferring these properties they gave the tenants a vote, but we did not get one.

"I could see this coming. They say the money is going toward improvements, but what improvements - my garage still had the original door on it, I think it was painted once in 25 years."

Another pensioner couple say they have been forced to keep hold of their garage because there is simply no where else to safely park the car - but they are not happy.

They say the tone of the letter was appalling: "Basically pay up or get out."

And they want to see big improvements to justify the massive hike in costs, including better lighting and improved security and better drainage to stop the garages flooding when it rains.

Alderley councillor Frank Keegan said residents who rented garages were overlooked when Macclesfield Borough Council transferred its housing stock to the new landlords.

He said a special meeting has been called to resolve the issue, adding: "Macclesfield Borough Council owes these residents a duty of care to protect them from these rent increases."

A spokesperson for Cheshire Peaks and Plains Housing Trust said: "We stand by our decision to increase garage rents for non-tenants.

"Cheshire Peaks and Plains exists solely to improve homes and services for our tenants, who voted for the transfer which created the Trust.

"Before the increase, our tenants were effectively subsidising the provision of garages to owner-occupiers, and our board found this unacceptable.

"We acknowledge that the increase is large, and have every sympathy for those who say it will be difficult to afford, but we have made this decision based on sound business principles."