A FOOTBALL club is appealing against a council's attempts to seize the ground it plays on.
Greenwich Borough Football Club, based at Harrow Meadow, Kidbrooke, since 1937, was served with a notice to quit by Greenwich Council last month.
The notice expired on June 30 but club chairman and film actor Tamer Hassan says he is launching a legal appeal.
It is claimed by the council that the club's lease can be cancelled at any time but Mr Hassan says this is not the case.
And the council says the club also has outstanding rent arrears of nearly £150,000 and negotiations over the outstanding figure have failed to resolve the issue.
The land has long been earmarked for redevelopment as part of the council's Kidbrooke Vision Masterplan which will see thousands of new houses built by Berkeley Homes.
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But Mr Hassan, who says the club is being supported in its fight by football stars Ian Wright, Jamie Redknapp and Harry Redknapp, claims the council is refusing to deal with him and has stopped taking his payments.
He said: "The lease also says the council are responsible for the maintenance of the pitches but the club has spent more than £200,000 doing that itself.
"I've got a legal footing here and they can't get me out.
"I've told them I'm not going away - I'm not moving."
The club, run by volunteers, draws up to 300 spectators and plays in the Kent League.
It is also used regularly for charity events, by schools and has a gym where the Eltham Warriors kickboxing club is based.
A council spokesman said: "The club has been aware for many years that notice could be served at any time.
"The club's inability, over many years, to pay a nominal rent gives the council no confidence that the situation would change if the club relocated to other premises.
"Any relocation assistance would be conditional upon the club clearing its rent arrears."
yet again we can see the council doing what it does best/ taking something away from the kids yet again so what are these kids going to do now? turn into yobos on the street corners i make tamar right he should stick to his guns and go nowhere these council do gooders make me sick
yet again we can see the council doing what it does best/ taking something away from the kids yet again so what are these kids going to do now? turn into yobos on the street corners i make tamar right he should stick to his guns and go nowhere these council do gooders make me sick
Totally agree Rob, with all the angry youths out there the council are trying to undo some good. A petition should be put on the government website and also facebook groups prove to be very popular and raise awareness get the local community on side. Good on Tamer i am sure the locals will be behind him!
Totally agree Rob, with all the angry youths out there the council are trying to undo some good. A petition should be put on the government website and also facebook groups prove to be very popular and raise awareness get the local community on side. Good on Tamer i am sure the locals will be behind him!
[quote]The land has long been earmarked for redevelopment as part of the council's Kidbrooke Vision Masterplan which will see thousands of new houses built by Berkeley Homes[/quote]
The council have been after this for years. Looks like they've found themselves an excuse to make a bit of fast cash and sod the residents who use this place.
The land has long been earmarked for redevelopment as part of the council's Kidbrooke Vision Masterplan which will see thousands of new houses built by Berkeley Homes
The council have been after this for years. Looks like they've found themselves an excuse to make a bit of fast cash and sod the residents who use this place.
This is really worrying news and I know the Club are very unhappy with what has been going on. As a Council, we really should be supporting our local sports clubs as much as we can. I have been in touch with the Labour Cabinet member demanding answers, and will be pursuing this strongly. We can't let Greenwich Borough FC be driven out of the Borough by their own Council!
Councillor Nigel Fletcher
(Eltham North Ward)
Conservative Spokesman for Culture and Olympics
This is really worrying news and I know the Club are very unhappy with what has been going on. As a Council, we really should be supporting our local sports clubs as much as we can. I have been in touch with the Labour Cabinet member demanding answers, and will be pursuing this strongly. We can't let Greenwich Borough FC be driven out of the Borough by their own Council!
Councillor Nigel Fletcher
(Eltham North Ward)
Conservative Spokesman for Culture and Olympics
the club has rent arrears of nearly £150,000, if they had paid there rent they would not be in this position. So its the owners fault for not paying the rent, if this was a normal tenent they would be out on the street by now. I have no pity for the owner as he should pay the rent..
the club has rent arrears of nearly £150,000, if they had paid there rent they would not be in this position. So its the owners fault for not paying the rent, if this was a normal tenent they would be out on the street by now. I have no pity for the owner as he should pay the rent..
also james if you read the article you will see that the club have spent money on the grounds which should of been done by the council which we all know that they dont spend money on things for local comunities so its like a catch 22 if they dont spend money on the grounds and refuse to deal with the club whos in the wrong? the council are but its a good way for them to get the club in court to say they owe rent they make me sick what you gonna say when these kids start loitering on the streets causing trouble ITS THE PARENTS FAULT
also james if you read the article you will see that the club have spent money on the grounds which should of been done by the council which we all know that they dont spend money on things for local comunities so its like a catch 22 if they dont spend money on the grounds and refuse to deal with the club whos in the wrong? the council are but its a good way for them to get the club in court to say they owe rent they make me sick what you gonna say when these kids start loitering on the streets causing trouble ITS THE PARENTS FAULT
Posted by: South East, South East on 8:33am Sat 5 Jul 08
We need more football clubs, sports clubs and other facilities for our young people and youths in the London Borough of Greenwich. So they have somewhere to go which is safe and well supervised and way from the gangs which are hanging around on our streets causing problems to innocennt people.
We need more football clubs, sports clubs and other facilities for our young people and youths in the London Borough of Greenwich. So they have somewhere to go which is safe and well supervised and way from the gangs which are hanging around on our streets causing problems to innocennt people.
Posted by: Roger, Middle Park on 2:31pm Sat 5 Jul 08
If the council have refused his payments as Tamar says, then this just smacks of a council that is just trying to make a fast pound or two.This is the same council that got rid of all the council football pitches in sutcliffe park, to turn it into god knows what at great expence to the council rate payers.This is the same politically correct council that at one time decided that competetive sports was elitest(hope i have spelt that right)and banned it in there schools.
The ground is earmarked for housing and everybody knows there is a shortage of housing in this area, But i will leave it up to your imagination, who these new houses will be allocated to with this politically correct council.Lets get somthing organised and march on the town hall when they are in seasion and let them know how we feel.
[bold]bold[/bold]
If the council have refused his payments as Tamar says, then this just smacks of a council that is just trying to make a fast pound or two.This is the same council that got rid of all the council football pitches in sutcliffe park, to turn it into god knows what at great expence to the council rate payers.This is the same politically correct council that at one time decided that competetive sports was elitest(hope i have spelt that right)and banned it in there schools.
The ground is earmarked for housing and everybody knows there is a shortage of housing in this area, But i will leave it up to your imagination, who these new houses will be allocated to with this politically correct council.Lets get somthing organised and march on the town hall when they are in seasion and let them know how we feel.
Posted by: paulus the wood gnome, nutwood on 8:59pm Sat 5 Jul 08
shame on greenwich council
they are only doing because there so skint due to bad management
hope tamar takes em to the cleaners
you got my backing fella
shame on greenwich council
they are only doing because there so skint due to bad management
hope tamar takes em to the cleaners
you got my backing fella
Posted by: paulus the wood gnome, nutwood on 9:02pm Sat 5 Jul 08
[quote][bold]Roger[/bold] wrote:
If the council have refused his payments as Tamar says, then this just smacks of a council that is just trying to make a fast pound or two.This is the same council that got rid of all the council football pitches in sutcliffe park, to turn it into god knows what at great expence to the council rate payers.This is the same politically correct council that at one time decided that competetive sports was elitest(hope i have spelt that right)and banned it in there schools. The ground is earmarked for housing and everybody knows there is a shortage of housing in this area, But i will leave it up to your imagination, who these new houses will be allocated to with this politically correct council.Lets get somthing organised and march on the town hall when they are in seasion and let them know how we feel. [bold]bold[/bold] [/quote] just goes to show what a bunch of bum holes greenwich council are
Roger wrote:
If the council have refused his payments as Tamar says, then this just smacks of a council that is just trying to make a fast pound or two.This is the same council that got rid of all the council football pitches in sutcliffe park, to turn it into god knows what at great expence to the council rate payers.This is the same politically correct council that at one time decided that competetive sports was elitest(hope i have spelt that right)and banned it in there schools. The ground is earmarked for housing and everybody knows there is a shortage of housing in this area, But i will leave it up to your imagination, who these new houses will be allocated to with this politically correct council.Lets get somthing organised and march on the town hall when they are in seasion and let them know how we feel.
just goes to show what a bunch of bum holes greenwich council are
Posted by: William, Finsbury on 4:04pm Wed 9 Jul 08
It is typical of the age we live in that rather than allow a much-loved club, and an integral part of the local cummonity, to stay at their longterm ground, the council want them out to turn around a fast buck. WHich of you goons guffed?
It is typical of the age we live in that rather than allow a much-loved club, and an integral part of the local cummonity, to stay at their longterm ground, the council want them out to turn around a fast buck. WHich of you goons guffed?
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