The Future of St Annes Cricket Club has been placed in jeopardy by a shock proposal by Guardian Estates (Lytham) Limited to increase the rental on their Highbury Road ground from £40 to £450.

Guardian have written to the cricket club stating that they intend to develop 11 acres of land fronting Highbury Road, grant the club a 35 - year lease in place of the current yearly one and increase the annual rent to £450, writes David Wilson.

As a result worried officials have called a crisis meeting at the club on Tuesday night to discuss their position.

"This is a real smack in the eye," St Annes Cricket Club chairman Nick Aspin told me. "It is a hell of a jump in rent and we would require a great deal of financial help to raise this kind of money."

SUDDEN CHANGE

We have paid an annual nominal rent for over 40 years and to be confronted with this sudden change takes some swallowing."
There is no mention of a progressive rise in rent or financial aid to help the club move the ground further north."
"A seroius question mark hangs over whether or not we can raise this amount of money."

THE FACTS

"We have called this special meeting on Tuesday to put all the facts before our members so that they will know the exact position."
"I only hope we will have a good turn-up, especially from players."

Guardian propose to build on a strip of land fronting Highbury Road. This would involve moving the cricket pitch further to the north.

NEW SQUARE

The cricket club prepared for such development several years ago and relaid a new cricket square on the northerly side of the existing one.
The boundary line would then encroach on the third team pitch and the goalpost on the football pitch would have to be taken down during the cricket season.

The Highbury Road entrance would be sealed off by the development, but Guardian suggested an access from Clive Avenue.

"The rental they are going to charge is the biggest fly in the ointment," added Mr Aspin.

A Guardian spokesman told me, "We have sent our proposals to the cricket club and we are awaiting a reply." Close Window