Petition to Safeguard Affordable Sport at Love Lane

We, the undersigned residents of Ongar & District, petition Ongar Town Council to abandon plans for their management of the Love Lane site and to renew instead the Full Repairing and Insuring Lease currently held by Ongar Social and Sports Club.

We further demand that the Council continues to recognise the voluntary nature of the work of the club's committee and members, by modest increases only of the current rent of £2000 p.a.

Ongar Town Council have not produced a credible business plan for their proposed management, since this idea was first conceived well over a year ago.

General assurances of continuity and affordability of sport are their only public statement thus far.

The Town Council precept for 2014/15 shows a 13% increase at a time when other parts of the Council Tax show little change.

This financial year would include just 2 months of their proposed management! How much increase would a complete year need?

UPDATE :   The club AGM is Tuesday 29/04; results of petition will be reported. Total so far over 200 with paper copy in Senners. Thank you all for your support.

FINAL UPDATE : This petition will be withdrawn at the end of June 2014 and the results will be used to argue the club's views with Ongar town Council. The council's Annual Report will be published at this time.

Total signatures to date - over 550 with paper copy in Senners. Thank you all for your support.