The news that rent for businesses based at Elstree Film Studios is to be substantially increased has come as a surprise to many of the company owners.

Understandably, the council needs to set higher rates as they have been too low for many years, but to give only one week's notice seems unreasonable.The council also has to account for why it has never raised the issue of rent levels since it took control of the studios almost a year ago.Taxpayers should not be left to foot the shortfall, but it is equally unfair to expect companies to budget for the increase in such a short space of time.