The fate of Badgers Hill Stadium remains uncertain following an extraordinary meeting of Frome Town Council last night, Thursday 5th June.
Councillors voted by majority to reject a proposal from a potential private operator to lease the site with an option to buy but left the door ‘open’ for an amended plan to be submitted.
After a lengthy debate in a confidential session closed to the public and press to protect the private operator’s identity, chair of Frome Town Council, Cllr Fiona Barrows, said that ‘after a lot of careful thought’ councillors ‘could not support the proposal as it stood.’
She said, “This wasn’t an easy decision – we know how much Badgers Hill means to so many people here in Frome. We didn’t feel there was enough clear community benefit or strong enough safeguards to protect the asset for the community.
“Over the last three years, almost a million pounds of public funds – both from FTC and grant funding – have been invested in the site, and we have a responsibility to protect that. We know this decision will be difficult for some people to hear, but we hope people appreciate that councillors considered all sides carefully and made the only decision we could. We are aware that the current status quo is not working for anyone, and we want to be clear – our decision last night was solely in regard to the proposal on the table.
It was a difficult evening for everyone involved, but also encouraging to see all voices were listened to with respect. Thank you to everyone who attended. Every stakeholder representative spoke passionately about football and its ability to bring people together. We hope going forward that passion can bridge current divides, to find an equitable solution for everyone involved.”
Prior to the confidential session, stakeholders shared their views, with Lester Silk of Frome Town Supporters Club urging the council to support the lessee’s proposal, but chair of the Community Benefit Society, Max Hirst, ‘respectfully urging’ the council to reject the lease to buy plan and ‘keep Badgers Hill in the community.’
Lester Silk said, “I am here tonight on behalf of the supporters to wholeheartedly support the proposal. I do not want to dwell on the failings of the CBS but they have failed to deliver their mandate. The proposal by the new lessee is not a ‘stranger bearing gifts.’ His vision for the club is clear – interest and investment, not only with the teams but with community involvement at Badgers’ Hill, something which has unfortunately disappeared.”
However, Max Hirst said the lessee’s proposal ‘lacks financial modelling’, ‘government safeguards’, ‘accountability’ and any ‘substantiated community benefit.’
He said, “By contrast, our proposal is lower risk, high impact and fully aligned with your duty to protect public value with a clear role for all teams, including the men’s, as part of an inclusive community-led future.
“We respectfully urge you, reject the lease to buy plan, keep Badgers Hill in community hands and work with us to build a Badgers Hill for everyone in Frome.”
The next extraordinary meeting to discuss the plans for the site is due to be held on Wednesday 18th June at 7pm at Frome Town Hall.
