Osbaldwick Cricket Club, one of York's oldest clubs, have been given notice to quit the village ground by March 31 following a row over rent.

The ground at The Leyes is owned by Osbaldwick Parish Council, who are owed £725 by Osbaldwick Sports Club, who admit the arrears but want the council to make a contribution to grass cutting on the six-acre field.

The long-running saga, in which tempers have run high, has resulted in the council and the sports club consulting solicitors.

Osbaldwick, who have played on a number of different grounds in the village for more than 100 years, are part of a sports club currently running two senior and three junior football teams, two senior and one junior cricket teams, three netball teams, two bowls league teams, two veterans bowls and a women's bowls team.

David Rippon, the former rugby league club player and chairman of the sports club, has had a number of meetings with his committee and the parish council, but they are no nearer a solution with time running out.

The club are members of the newly former premier division of the Costcutter York Senior League and clubs in the top flight must have grounds up to a high standard.

Rippon said: "Basically, we believe that this is a reciprocal arrangement between the parish council and ourselves which is of benefit to both parties.

"In 1957 the field was divided into two by a hedge, was covered in thistles and long grass which was cut twice a year for silage. The sports club obtained a lease and through their own efforts laid a cricket square and also levelled and re-seeded the field.

"Since 1970 the cricket section has joined forces with the football section and over the years we have gradually improved the facilities.

With help of grants from Ryedale Council and the Sports Council, £250,000 has been invested in the project which has included a new clubhouse. We have a loan of £40,000 which has been guaranteed by club members.

"In 1992 it was agreed under a new lease that we would pay £300 per year, which was waived by the parish council in return for work carried out on the field by ourselves. But in November 1995 the parish council decided they wanted to change that agreement and have demanded payment of the rental."

Ray Benton, chairman of the parish council, has different views.

"Our reason in giving them notice to quit is merely to try to persuade them to sign a new lease, the old one having run out. I must say that I have found some of the discussions since unsavoury.

"We have had two solicitors putting forward a draft agreement that they would hope would be acceptable to both sides but nothing has been worked out so far.

"A 25-year lease was signed in 1992 for the land on which the building stands, but what we are now talking about is a lease for the field.

The parish council has changed over the years, just as the make-up of any committee does and the sports club don't seem to want to accept that ideas of people can change.

"We have been very lenient over the years, but we now feel that the time has come when we want to receive some income from what is, after all, a parish council property.

"We are not seeking to skin or rook them in any way, but the sports club seem to have developed the idea that the ground is their property. It isn't.

"They are a very successful club and we are delighted about that, so I find it sad that feelings are running so high over the matter and that is why the parish council decided to send letters to all people in the parish. We have asked them whether they support the parish council in a continued action to achieve payment of overdue rent from the sports club and also to establish proper basis for the future. The overwhelming response is yes.

"I would underline that no-one wants to see cricket stopped from being played, but we must have a proper agreement and we believe it is perfectly reasonable, as happens in so many other clubs, for rent to be paid by a club who are using property owned by the parish council to make money for their own club." STUMPED: Osbaldwick sports club chairman Dave Rippon at Osbaldwick Cricket Club today

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