Ringwood Bowling Club accuses Ringwood Town Council of “playing games” over site lease renewal

RINGWOOD Bowling Club has accused the town council of “playing games” with them over renewing the lease for their current base at Carvers Recreation Ground.

Club building manager Barry Vaughan told the A&T the council had asked the group to sign a new 25-year lease that includes a break clause allowing councillors to evict it from Carvers Field without having to compensate it for years of investment.

Mr Vaughan said: “Our current lease expired at the end of April, although the council was required legally to give an extension of another two months to complete negotiations.

“The proposed new lease would give the council powers to evict the club should they receive an offer to buy Carvers Field for development – although the council claim no such offer has been made.”

Mr Vaughan said the bowling club’s recently expired lease was drawn up in 1971 under the terms of the 1954 Landlord and Tenant Act, which requires the land owner to compensate the tenant if the lease is broken and they are evicted.

Mr Vaughan said the 25-year lease currently being offered by the town council removes many of those financial protections for the club. He said the club would sign a new 25-year lease for the site “tomorrow” if the council would restore the financial compensation clauses.

“Every single pound that has been spent on that club since 1975 has come from members – maintenance, paying rates, heating, lighting and building the new club house – we’re talking hundreds of thousands of pounds just in building materials and work,” he said.

“That property belongs to us. The council doesn’t even trim our hedges or take away our green waste.

“If the council doesn’t intend to sell the land then there’s no reason we can’t sign a new copy of our old lease. So far it has already cost us £4,000 in legal fees as a club to have the new 28-page lease looked over by a lawyer.

“This new document was drawn up by the council and seemingly includes elements that aren’t even relevant to our club, such as an energy performance certificate for the clubhouse which the council doesn’t even own.

“We’ve also been told by the council that none of our email or fax corresepondence over lease conditions can be cited if we end up going to court over this.

“It beggars belief. This seems like it’s all being done just to waste our time, money and resources. It feels like the council is trying to create confusion and now they’re just playing games with us.”

In response, a town council spokesperson told the A&T: “Notice was served on this council by solicitors instructed by Ringwood Bowling Club under the Landlord and Tenant Act requesting a new tenancy and in response the council has indicated that it will not oppose the request.

“Negotiations over the terms of the new lease are currently in progress. It would not be appropriate for the council to comment on these negotiations at this time. If no agreement is reached, the terms of the lease will be determined by the tribunal.”