Camrose ground listed as asset of community value

The latest move from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council means that Basron cannot sell the stadium without first giving the community six months to buy it.

The historic stadium, which saw two planning applications on the site turned down last September, was listed as an asset of community value by BDBC, with the decision coming through on Friday evening.

The Camrose Ground

It comes after a request to do so by Basingstoke Town Community Football Club.

Basron, owned by the former club chairman Rafi Razzak, bought the freehold to the ground in 2016 from the late newspaper proprietor's estate, which later saw the club kicked out from their home.

After planning applications on the site were refused and plans to build a road were dropped, pressure has mounted for the site to be returned to football use.

This latest move comes after almost a year-long campaign from residents and fans to save the Camrose.

Reacting, acting chairman Kevin White said: "It is good news. It hopefully shows that the council sees the Camrose as an important asset to the town and the community.

"We are looking at it at the moment and what we can do with it.

"We need a long term home and ideally that is the Camrose. This is a massive step foward.

"The assets of community values typically are for your local pub or local post office, the fact that they are registering a football ground sets a precedent."

Asked what his messaged would be to Mr Razzak, Kevin added: "I think he should speak to us about it.

"It makes it incredibly difficult for developers (to do anything). That makes it a much less attractive plot of land.

"it seems to be getting worse for Basron, so open communication back up with us and we will see what we can do.

"The Gazette is behind it, the community is behind it."

What is an asset of community value (ACV)?

According to My Community, a website created by 12 leading community support organisations, an ACV forms a part of the community right to bid.

It acts as the first stage in identifying and nominating buildings or other assets such as land that have a main use or purpose of furthering the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community, and could do so into the future.

Once listed as Assets of Community Value with the local authority, the local community will be informed if they are listed for sale within the five year listing period. The community can then enact the Community Right to Bid, which gives them a moratorium period of six months to determine if they can raise the finance to purchase the asset.

An Asset of Community Value is defined as: A building or other land is an asset of community value if its main use has recently been or is presently used to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community and could do so in the future. The Localism Act states that ‘social interests’ include cultural, recreational and sporting interests.

Assets will remain on the list for at least five years. If the council decides that the nomination doesn’t meet the criteria, then they must write to the group who nominated the asset and provide an explanation. They must also keep a list of unsuccessful nominations for at least five years. Landowners can ask local authorities to review the inclusion of an asset on the list, and this triggers an appeal to an independent body, called a First Tier Tribunal.