SHOPPING centre owners are reviewing their policy of charging charities — including the Royal British Legion — £60 for collections.

The Orchard Centre at Didcot said it would either scrap the fee or increase the number of charities that could set up free each month, currently limited to one.

The Legion was charged last year as two other charities had already collected donations free.

Ken Wiley, 76, of the Military Vehicle Trust, which raised £850 for the RBL in the centre last year with a display of vehicles, contacted the Herald to express his disappointment at the shopping centre’s policy of charging charities.

He was also concerned that the £60 fee levied on the RBL last year following his group’s display might have discouraged the RBL from inviting them back this year.

The King Alfred Drive, Didcot, resident said: “It seems ridiculous to worry about £60 when we raised a total of £850.

“It also seems a bit odd for a shopping centre to impose a charge when a charity is raising money for such a good cause.”

The group has not been asked back by the RBL this year.

Mr Wiley said: “We are concerned that they don’t want us to go ahead because of the charge from the shopping centre.” Keith Hughes, chairman of the RBL’s Didcot branch, said: “The Orchard Centre did ask for a £60 fee, which was covered by a private donation. But there has been no falling out with the Military Vehicle Trust and they are being invited back next year.

“It does take a lot of organisation to stage these events every year and we simply don’t have the manpower in the local area this year.”

Catrin Morgan, a spokesman for Hammerson, which owns the shopping centre, said: “We have told the RBL that they can come back for free this year and we are reviewing our policy regarding the number of charitable groups per month that we charge.”

The charge could be scrapped altogether, she said.

The shopping complex’s manager Steve Murray, who started in January, said he was not aware the RBL had been charged. He said: “I was in the Royal Navy for 23 years so I would like the RBL to be able to use the centre for free.

“We have raised money for Help for Heroes here in the past and I want to do everything I can to support the military.”

Tom Crowther, spokesman for Asset Space, which co-manages the centre, said: “In that particular month we had already let two bookings come in for free and the Royal British Legion was the third inquiry. The charge is a nominal administration charge and the rules still apply.”