Cricket club in battle with bureaucracy (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Cricket club in battle with bureaucracy

4:42pm Wednesday 3rd June 2009

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THE future of a 48-year-old cricket club has been thrown into doubt because its facilities are to be taken away in the middle of matches.

Officials say that Burnham Sports Cricket Club may face closure if Leisure Connection, which owns its clubhouse facilities at Millfields, does not reconsider a decision to close the building at 6pm instead of 9pm - before the matches are usually finished.

This would mean players would be forced to complete games without shelter, changing facilities, showers, toliets or even access to get a drink of water.

Playing without these facilities contravenets league rules, and could result in the club, which has teams that play on a Saturday and Sunday as well as a junior team, being thrown out of its leagues.

The club, formed in 1961, pays rent to Maldon District Council of £800 per year.

However, the facilities are managed by Leisure Connection, who say that if the clubhouse is to remain open, the club will need to pay two members of staff.

This would cost about £80 a week, which the club says it cannot afford.

David Gamble, Chairman of Burnham Sports Cricket Club, said: “It costs over £3,500 per year to run our club and there is no way we cannot afford the extra expense of £80 per weekend for two babysitters.”

“It is an absurd situation and, unless the council and Leisure Connection can be brought to their senses, there is a very real risk that we will have to fold.

“We've been playing cricket at Millfields for almost 50 years and are being forced out of our own home.

“Burnham Sports Club pays the council rent of over £800 a year and, as we prepare and maintain the ground ourselves, all we effectively get in return is a place to get changed in. Now, it seems even that is too much to ask.”

Ken Harris, one of the town’s original players from the 1960s and current president, added: “At a time when there is a need to encourage exercise and social contact with young people this is an absolute disaster.”

Rebecca Douglas, spokesperson for Leisure Connection, said: “We are currently working with Maldon District Council and Burnham Sport Club to resolve this situation.

“Leisure Connection is commitment to delivering a first class leisure service to the people of Burnham.”

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