A parish council has banned its village football team from playing after a row erupted over huge hikes in rent.
Just days before the start of the season, Clenchwarton Football Club has been told it cannot use the playing field due to the ongoing dispute.
Relations between the club and Clenchwarton Parish Council are thought to have been fraught for a number of years – but the turmoil has reached a flashpoint this month after the council demanded a 200% increase in rent.
The situation has been described as an “absolute nightmare” by its chairman, leaving nearly 250 members unable to train, including a number of youth teams.
Ben Hails, 41, Clenchwarton FC’s chairman, said: “We are a really well-run club and generally have the support of the local community and do all we can to support the local community.
“But the parish council do not seem to support us and has been against us from the get-go.”
In an official statement, Mr Hails added that the actions of the parish council, which owns the field, are having a huge effect on the community spirit in the village.
He said: “This hasn’t only stopped the club playing football, it has stopped children, parents and grandparents meeting socially.
“We urge the parish council to end the lockout and re-engage in meaningful negotiations before irreparable damage is done to the club.”
The council has said that despite 18 months of negotiations, it has been unable to strike a balance between charging “fair, sustainable” rent prices and “the club’s needs”.
The dispute was triggered after efforts were made to formalise the lease agreement between the club and council.
The club was happy to accept paying £150 a month, 130% more than it is paying currently, in the future as part of the new agreement.
But it has now received backdated invoices for the last three years based on a perceived incorrect fee.
Previously, rent was agreed at £66 per month – but the council requested the higher amount of £150 for the past three years.
The council has also now increased the monthly rent to £200 a month “without any justification”, Mr Hails argued.
The club says the new agreement would have removed its ability to improve and maintain the playing field.
Instead, the council wanted to charge the club £200 for each additional grass cut outside 16 agreed for each year.
But the club says it has all the equipment and FA-qualified grounds maintenance staff who can cut the grass themselves and that it needs to cut the grass each week.
It would also stop the club from being able to use the front pitches at the playing field, which is where the club was founded in 1976.
With 18 teams across six pitches training for 12 hours a week, Mr Hails says the restrictions would make this “unachievable”.
He said: “While we are wholeheartedly open to formalising the agreement between both parties, in its present form it is unsignable and would do irreparable damage to the club and be detrimental to its future.”
Clenchwarton FC has been going for 50 years and describes itself as a family-friendly organisation and a “focal point for sporting spirit and community pride” in the village.
It is home to more than 200 children, including a growing number of girls’ teams, which have risen to three this past year due to a surge in popularity.
Mr Hails has appealed for help from North West Norfolk MP James Wild and West Norfolk Council, but so far, this has not been forthcoming.
A statement from Clenchwarton Parish Council said: “As with all local councils, the services and amenities in Clenchwarton are supported by public funds through the council tax precept paid by residents.
“At a time when the cost of living continues to place pressure on households and demand on local facilities is rising, the costs associated with maintaining and providing these services have also increased significantly.
“We want to be clear that the council’s priority has always been to ensure that community facilities remain accessible and affordable for all, and we remain committed to keeping costs as low as possible for parishioners.
“In doing so, we must also ensure that the rents charged for use of village facilities are fair, sustainable, and reflect the costs of upkeep – particularly when those facilities have required substantial investment over the years.
“Unfortunately, after more than 18 months of negotiations, it has not been possible to reach an agreement with Clenchwarton Football Club that balances these responsibilities with the club’s needs.
“The outstanding rental arrears of collectively £3,700 from all parties have further complicated the situation.
“It is with regret that we have had to suspend the club’s use of the facilities until a fair and sustainable agreement on terms of use and finances can be reached.
“We recognise and deeply value the role of sports in the community, especially those activities that promote health, wellbeing, and engagement among children and families. The council is fully aware of the importance of such opportunities and shares in the disappointment that this issue remains unresolved.”
