Tensions have grown within a town council as Tories were accused of trying to claim credit for a "game changing" new upgrade to the local football club.

Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of wrongly trying to claim credit for the new sports facility project.

Carterton Football Club has been offered grant funding for a new artificial football pitch, as well as a community hall and pavilion and extending their car park facilities.

There are also plans to work with Oxfordshire Skill Acquisition Academy to provide a dedicated BTEC programme for school leavers.

The club's land belongs to Carterton Town Council, but the clubhouse and all the facilities were built by local residents and members.

In November the town council voted unanimously to give the club the 30-year lease it needed to obtain the grant funding to create the facility.

But volunteers from Carterton Football Club said they were 'surprised' to see a recent article by Conservative District and Town Councillor Michele Mead in the Witney Gazette.

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In her District Dossier, Ms Mead wrote: "This is what your local Conservative team will keep on campaigning and pushing for as we owe it to this generation and the next to do something.”

Andrew Walton, vice chairman of the club, said: "She has also been seen posting newsletters to residents with a picture of her outside the football club posing as their saviour.

“This would be fantastic if it was true but the reality is the Conservative-led Carterton Town Council has consistently blocked and delayed Carterton Football Club from renewing their lease for over three years.”

Liz Wood, a Lib Dem elected in September, said: “The football club were so desperate for our support that even before I was elected one of the club’s team managers approached me at the Social Club when I was out with friends.

Oxford Mail:

"He explained that the football club had been locked in a long battle with the Town Council to extend their lease and this was putting the future of the club in jeopardy.

"I was very happy to help and took the earliest opportunity to visit the club and hear about their plans for a new sports facility.

"However, they will only achieve this if their lease can be agreed with the Town Council.”

Phil Godfrey, chairman of the club, added: "For two months running, the Tory-run council chose to close their council meeting rather than discussing the final item on the agenda: the crucial lease.

"A discussion was forced on them only after Independent Councillor, Lynn Little and Lib Dem Councillors Natalie King and Sandie Baylis took the initiative to call an extraordinary meeting.

"The club then turned up en masse at the Town Hall with over 150 local parents and children to persuade the council to agree to it."

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But he alleged the 'excuses and delays' are continuing.

"At the end of last year, they agreed to the lease but as of today, we have received nothing.

"They regularly hold behind-closed-doors meetings away from public scrutiny and, sadly, some Conservative councillors have now reneged on their promise and have said they will not support our request for a new lease.

"This will, in effect, stop our funding."

He added: "With this in mind, some very concerned local residents are seriously thinking of standing for the Town Council in May elections to try and make a change that Carterton desperately needs.”

Ms Mead said town councillors "are now very clearly putting politics and point scoring in front of good decisions for our town". 

She said: "The Conservative-led town council has long been a supporter of local sports clubs and we recognise that with the increase in demand we need to act to address complicated issues like a lease agreement.

"We welcomed the public meeting last year and it was great to see so many parents and children in attendance but we have been in regular discussions with the football club for some time now.

"These matters are often complicated and it’s important we get the agreement right which works for both the club and the town council.

"We should focus on improving sport facilities in the town rather than petty politics which won't help the young people wishing to enjoy a sport they love."

 

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This story was written by Miranda Norris, she joined the team in 2021 and covers news across Oxfordshire as well as news from Witney.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Miranda.Norris@newsquest.co.uk. Or find her on Twitter: @Mirandajnorris

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