Plans to secure the Ranch at Workington’s Moss Bay for use by a community football club are hanging by a thread.
An extraordinary general meeting of Workington Town Council tomorrow night will consider a proposal to go through with the purchase of the land for £140,000.
But the meeting has caused controversy – with claims that the deal is about to be scuppered by Labour.
However, Labour councillor Michael Heaslip said the only aim was to help buy the Ranch for a fair price.
He said: “My proposal to council is the only thing on the agenda that proposes that the council help the Juniors FC by buying the Ranch. The Independents say they want to buy the Ranch but they have not put forward any proposal for the council to vote on.
“They have faffed around with this for months. No council can buy land for more than its worth for the purpose: it’s unlawful.
“The ‘valuation’ of the land which some people have been referring to is no use because it’s based on incorrect information. We cannot agree to buy any land without a proper valuation. And when we get one, that will tell us the price we are legally allowed to pay.
“If it’s a price the seller will accept, OK. If he won’t accept, then that’s his decision and we will have to find another solution.
It’s a shame that people are trying to twist my support for the Juniors for their own political advantage. My proposal is the council buys the land to secure its future for sport – in the only legally possible way.”
Workington Reds Juniors, which has 600 children on their books, have exciting plans for the development of facilities on the site and believe any delay will seriously damage those initiatives.
David Garrett, club chairman said: “Without the Ranch we have nothing and this really is the final vote. All due diligence needed to support us has been completed.
“The Public Loans Board have provided an extension to get the money which is very rare as they only sit annually.
“There are some really exciting plans in place which will benefit the community as a whole, not just Workington Reds Juniors and it’s going to be sickening if they have to be scrapped.
“There have been a number of disingenuous comments made to us in recent weeks and it looks as though it is going to be a very close vote which could even be split.
“As a club we are going to be there in force beforehand to lobby councillors and show the strength of feeling in the community. I know plenty of people in the immediate community are going to be interested to see which way councillors vote on this.”
The Labour motion says: “Workington Town Council in exercise of its powers under Public Health Act 1875 (s164) and under Open Spaces Act 1906 (s9,s10) will negotiate without prejudice and subject to contract to acquire the freehold of the land known as the Ranch (fully described in the particulars of sale) in consideration of a sum to be agreed with the vendor which reflects the fair value of the property as playing fields being paid by the council to the direction of the vendor on completion.
“It is agreed that in the event of any residential development of the property in part or whole or sale to a private sector (for profit) owner then an overage payment equivalent to the excess between cost and full open market value of the land to be redeveloped or transferred must be paid to the direction of the vendor within three months of the grant of planning approval or in the case of sale at the point of transfer.”
Workington MP Mark Jenkinson has launched a petition – Tell Workington Town Council to Save the Ranch – and his pledged his support to their plans for the future.
He said: “The Ranch has been a part of Workington’s sports scene for decades, being the home of British Steel’s sports teams. The style of the changing facilities led to it being nicknamed ‘the Ranch’ – a name that has stuck. The social club alongside was incredibly popular.
“Latterly it has been the home of Workington Reds Junior Football Club, whose hard work has created a fantastic junior football facility – and I’ve spent many hours pitch-side at my own children’s away games.”
