The former chief executive of Basingstoke Town Football Club has been ordered to pay £608,000 in compensation for his plans to turn a historic football pitch into a housing estate.

Sport England has objected to plans put forward by Rafi Razzak’s development company Basron to build 89 homes at the Camrose, the heart of Basingstoke’s football club for over 70 years until they were evicted last summer.

The public body will only accept the application if Mr Razzak’s firm pays £300,000 to Basingstoke Town Football Club for the loss of facilities. Sport England also want Basron to repay the council for the £150,000 spent on improvements to the club’s temporary home in Winklebury.

When contacted by the Gazette, Mr Razzak said that he was “doing [my] best to try to get it sorted out”, but declined to comment specifically on the figures at this time.

You can read the full story on page 9.

Also in this week's paper:

  • Hundreds of people flocked to Basingstoke’s Household Waste Recycling Centre on Monday after it opened for the first time in seven weeks. Read more on page 2.
  • An elderly couple being treated in separate hospitals have been reunited after being moved into a hospice together. Read more on page 3.
  • People across Basingstoke did not let the current crisis spoil celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Read more and see photos on pages 4-7.
  • It's official – a Basingstoke pub landlord is now a world record breaker after hosting the longest quiz ever, smashing the previous record. Read more on page 8.
  • Basingstoke residents with suspected coronavirus have been forced to travel to other cities to be tested - despite a mobile assessment centre being set up on their doorstep. Read more on page 12.
  • Calls have been made to ban fireworks from Thursday’s Clap for Carers after a Hatch Warren nurse said it leaves her rescue dog terrified. Read more on page 21.
  • A nurse and midwife who worked at Basingstoke hospital is allowed to return to practise as a registered nurse after being suspended for misconduct for prescribing unauthorised drugs. Read more on page 23.
  • Plus: The latest from Basingstoke Magistrates' Court.
  • Two pages of your letters.
  • Two pages of news from our communities, including Oakley, Chineham and Sherfield.
  • Three pages of news from our districts, including Tadley, Whitchurch and Hook.
  • A four-page puzzle special.
  • A full page of your birthdays and celebrations.
  • Two pages of business news.
  • Three pages of entertainment news.
  • And much more!

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