A STRIP of land which is currently owned by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) has been branded as “not pivotal” to the redevelopment of the much-loved Camrose football ground.

As previously reported permission was granted in May to build 85 dwellings and a 70-bedroom care home on the site.

The former chairman of Basingstoke Town Football Club Raffi Razzak and his company Basron Developments Ltd lodged appeals against a decision by the council's development control committee to reject his planning applications.

A government inspector conducted an inquiry into the planning decisions and granted approval for both schemes.

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BDBC currently own a 1.94 acre strip on the stadium site that is leased to Basingstoke Town Limited for 30 years, the company owned by Mr Razzak. 

During a full council meeting held on Thursday, July 14 a member of the public, who was addressed as Mr French, asked the council why they have not yet disposed of the land.

Mr French said: “Can Cllr Izett confirm that this lease, which covers part of the playing pitch, spectator area and the only access linking it to the ground has a term linking it to the continuance of the ground for use as sport and should the council not be proactive in the disposal of the land, which could be pivotal in the redevelopment of the Camrose.”

Cllr John Izett reaffirmed that council’s land was not included in the Basron application and that other forms of use development would “in most cases” require planning permission.

He said: "The council as landlord has no ability to proactively bring the lease to an end without the agreement of Basingstoke Town Limited. It is for Basingstoke Town Limited in their capacity as lessee to approach the council should they desire to bring the lease to an end on appropriate terms to be agreed with the council to potentially facilitate other uses and forms of development and enable realisation of a potential council receipt.”

He also told the meeting that he believed the council’s land is “not pivotal” to the redevelopment of the Camrose.

The council is currently awaiting a response from Hampshire County Council as to whether they “unequivocally” do or not require the council’s land for any potential future link road.

Cllr Izett added: “This impacts on the council's ability to dispose of the whole of its land interests at the Camrose.”

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Mr French left no questions unasked.

He said: “Surely the council will link to any contingence of the lease of the strip to the requirements that football sport continues at the Camrose, in which case the Basron closure to football should mean that the Basron lease automatically falls. Can the council confirm that this is the position if the council has lost the lease they should get a copy from Basron?”

However, Cllr Izett said that he does not think they can “bring the lease to an end at the moment”. 

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