Football club banned from pitches in rent dispute

Fees for grass cutting are part of the row in Clenchwarton, Norfolk

A football club has been banned from playing on its village pitches amid a disagreement with the parish council.

The row in Clenchwarton, near King's Lynn in Norfolk, centres around a backdated increase to rent owed by the club, and higher grass cutting fees.

It has been described as an "absolute nightmare" by Clenchwarton Football Club's chairman, leaving nearly 250 players unable to train from youth to senior levels.

However, Clenchwarton Parish Council insisted it was "committed to working collaboratively toward an outcome that is in the best interests of the whole community".

Ben Hails, 41, Clenchwarton FC's chairman, 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."

Around 250 football players are affected by the dispute

The dispute was triggered after efforts were made to formalise the lease agreement between the club and council.

Mr Hails said the club was happy to accept paying £150 a month, 130% more than it pays currently, in the future as part of the new agreement.

But it has now received backdated invoices for the last three years based on an 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," said Mr Hails.

It also wanted to charge the club - which was founded at the playing fields in 1976 - £200 for each additional grass cut outside 16 agreed for each year.

But the club say it has all the equipment and has FA-qualified grounds maintenance staff who can cut the grass themselves and that it needs to cut the grass each week.

With 18 teams across six pitches training for 12 hours a week, Mr Hails says the restrictions would make this "unachievable".

Clenchwarton Football Club was founded at the playing fields in 1976

A Clenchwarton Parish Council statement said 18 months of negotiation had resulted in the decision "to suspend the club's use of the facilities until a fair and sustainable agreement" was reached.

The council said its associated costs had "increased significantly" and that its focus was to keep costs "as low as possible for parishioners".

It continued: "We recognise and deeply value the role of sports in the community.

"The council is fully aware of the importance of such opportunities and shares in the disappointment that the issue remains unresolved."