Recreation ground bought amid auction concerns

The recreation ground is near Hillmorton Road and Lower Hillmorton Road (street pictured)

A recreation ground has been bought by Rugby Borough Council after the site was listed for auction.

Rugby Borough Council said it had purchased GEC recreation ground in the town, completing a deal to buy the freehold of the 5.4-hectare (13-acre) site.

The authority said it signed a 50-year lease on the land off Hillmorton Road in 2007 with landowner St Modwen, but concerns were raised when the site appeared listed for auction with a guide price of £500 to £1,000.

The council contacted the auctioneer and St Modwen in a bid to head off uncertainty over the recreation ground's future.

The authority had now signed contracts to conclude the deal after agreeing terms, it said.

Leader Michael Moran said the authority "wanted to act decisively".

He stated: "Despite having 33 years of our 50-year lease to run and the recreation ground's 'open space' status protected by other legislation, we understood the uncertainty the auction listing created in the community."

'Short space of time'

Mr Moran said securing the recreation ground's future was in line with an agreement struck by the council's Labour and Liberal Democrat groups on taking control of the authority in June.

It was designated open space in the Rugby Borough Local Plan 2011-2031.

A review of the plan has started, but the council said it had already committed to protecting the recreation ground's open space and sports pitches in the next edition.

The authority plans to guarantee the recreation ground will remain protected by applying for Fields in Trust status, joining other places as a legally-protected public open space.

Mr Moran thanked St Modwen and the auctioneers for arranging the deal "in such a short space of time".

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Jerry Roodhouse stated the recreation ground was "well loved by many sports teams and residents", and he was glad it had been secured for future generations.