GOC pays peppercorn rent in Harley Street

Answering criticism that it was squandering registrant's retention fees by renting expensive premises on Harley Street, the General Optical Council (GOC) has revealed it only pays £325 in rent per year.

The accusations followed the Council's decision to increase its fees from £219 for all practitioners to £325 for optometrists (OOs) and £280 for dispensing opticians (DOs) (News 18.11.09).

Posting on the Optician Space forum a disgruntled DO, writing under the pseudonym of The Hitman, alleged: 'The GOC has been losing registrants year on year and hence this rise to make their books balance. Why don't they reduce their overheads and move to an office somewhere in a cheaper place rather than Harley Street?'