THE Camrose football stadium has been listed as an asset of community value, which Basingstoke Town FC football club say could be a “great opportunity” if the land is put up for sale.

Basingstoke Town FC (BTFC) have today (May 24) received confirmation that the Camrose has been declared an asset of community value by a First-Tier Tribunal.

Basron, lead by former BTFC Chairman Rafi Razzak, had previously appealed the decision to list the Camrose as an asset of community value.

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The current chairman of the club Jack Miller said that this means although the land has planning on it the club will be informed if it is listed for sale within the five year listing period.

The community can then enact the ‘community right to bid’, which would afford the community a moratorium period of six months to determine if they can raise the finance to purchase the Camrose.

Jack Miler said: “It is great news and could provide an opportunity for the club to potentially raise funds and find a home for the club because we will have the first right to bid.”

He said the club will keep residents updated with progress, in regards to meetings with the council and other interested parties.

He added: “This is a real opportunity for the Community Club and the community of Basingstoke, including the Council, to work together and ensure that the Community Club can have a home; one that it can grow and thrive in, and the town as a whole has the football stadium that it previously enjoyed and still very much deserves.

"This decision reaffirms what we all know, that The Camrose is a true community asset and has now officially been recognised as one by a First-Tier Tribunal.”

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Permission has been granted for 85 dwellings and a care home to be built on the Camrose football stadium site, after a government inspector approved the developer's appeals.

Basingstoke Town Football Club, which occupied the site before it was thrown out by its former owner Rafi Razzak and his company Basron, had been fighting for the borough council’s development control committee refusal decision to be upheld, but the inspector has sided with the developer.

Since then the club has said it won’t be taking the decision to the High Court.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s head of law and governance Fiona Thomsen said: “The council has been notified that the First Tier Tribunal has dismissed an appeal from the owner of The Camrose Stadium following a decision to list the site as an asset of community value. As a result, the site remains on the council’s register of community assets.”

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