IT IS now two years since Planning Inspector Dominic Young upheld the appeal by Basron on their Application to develop the Camrose ground. The Gazette called it ‘a travesty’ and one could only agree with the word.

The picture above was taken after Viscount Camrose extended the Lord Camrose Covenant until 2053. The area is huge and large enough to host a Football League club. It had a track around the pitch and tentative plans were put forward for Greyhound racing. Subsequent to the farcical public inquiry things have moved on and we believe it is now time for Basron to submit a second planning application to Basingstoke council. Hampshire County Council have advised that a new planning application is required following the scrapping of the poorly thought out Link Road through the ground.

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A new planning application would be able to hear the countless arguments that were not presented at either the original planning application or indeed the public inquiry into the Basron appeal.

Just a few:

• The Asset of Community Value Judgement from Judge Lorna Findlay which was withheld from the public inquiry. It was available before the public inquiry.

• The first Lord Camrose Covenant on the Basron portion of the Camrose ground. This was withheld from the public inquiry.

• The second Lord Camrose Covenant on the Basingstoke council portion of the Camrose ground. This was withheld from the public inquiry.

• The preferential share given to the supporters as a condition of Rafi Razzak taking over the running of Basingstoke Town FC. This share was worth 51 per cent and withheld from the public inquiry.

• The scrapping of the Link Road subsequent to the Public Inquiry. The Link Road is mentioned in the Dominic Young report as likely to proceed.

• The ludicrous argument that a shared ground at HFA Winklebury somehow equates to the loss of the Camrose ground. This has now been exposed a false argument with the HFA Winklebury works only achieving Step 3 grading. The Camrose was grade 1 and could go higher.

• The latest drawings submitted by team Razzak seem to show changes which of course need to be applied for.

SEE ALSO: Council denies it is looking to sell the land it owns at The Camrose

Hampshire County Council have stated a new planning application is now required as we understand it. Basingstoke council should honour that request.

It is now seven years since the Camrose Scandal started and the Camrose ground needs to be restored. Football interest is at an all time including amazing growth in ladies and girls football. A town with a population of 186,000 has been deprived of the use and benefit of its football ground for far too long. Time for action by Basingstoke council, councillors and Basron.

David Graham

Basingstoke

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