Basingstoke Town Supporters Club questions Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council over ownership of land at the Camrose

As previously reported, former chairman of Basingstoke Town Football Club Rafi Razzak and his company Basron Developments Ltd lodged appeals against a decision by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s (BDBC) development control committee to reject plans for the football club's former home.

The proposals were to demolish the Camrose stadium and build 85 dwellings and a 70-bedroom care home.

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The Camrose was the home of the football club for more than 70 years until it was evicted by Mr Razzak in 2016.

A Government planning inspector conducted an inquiry into the council’s decisions, and Mr Razzak was granted outline permission for both applications in May.

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

Now the chairman of the Basingstoke Town Supporters Club Martin French has called on the council to end the lease.

Sean Dillow (Image: Sean Dillow)

Martin French said he believes that BDBC is “weak, out of touch with reality and not proactive" in maintaining the value of the land.

Although the strip of land is not currently part of Mr Razzak's development plans Martin French said the land is a vital part of the club. He discovered a term specifying forfeiture of the lease if not used for football.

He said: “The part of land they own is right near to the entrance of the Camrose so it is a real vital part of the ground. 

“Despite Basron banishing football from the Camrose over three years ago, the pitch being dug up, the stands and spectator facilities allowed to decay and planning approved for housing, the council do not recognise a case to act. 

“The lease consists of the whole of the length of the northern boundary some 30 plus metres wide from Western Way, covering the sole access to the ground, running through part of the decaying clubhouse, the pitch itself and spectator facilities.”

As previously reported during a full council meeting held on July 14 Cllr John Izett reaffirmed that the council’s land was not included in the Basron application.

He said previously: "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.”

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Mr French is now urging the council to change its position and use money received from the sale of its strip towards a permanent replacement of the Camrose. 

Discussions were previously had that the council's land would be used as part of Hampshire County Council's plans for a link road.

Sean Dillow (Image: Sean Dillow)

A spokesperson for BDBC said: “The council’s land, which is approximately 1.94 acres, was not included in the area of the planning appeal for the redevelopment of the Camrose site. While the council holds the freehold of this area, it is subject to a ground lease of 92 years from June 1960 at a rent of £65 per year to Basingstoke Town Limited, which expires in 2052. We are not in negotiations with Basron or Rafi Razzak to sell the land.

"Discussions originally took place with Hampshire County Council, as the highways authority, about a Camrose link road option as part of the wider improvement scheme for Brighton Hill roundabout, which would have included some of this land. The county council has progressed an improvement scheme for Brighton Hill roundabout without the link road. However, following the appeal decision, we are waiting for a decision from Hampshire County Council about whether there are plans to progress the link road as part of the scheme in future.”