Gravesham council steps in to buy Stonebridge Road for £400,000
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by Danny Boyle
Ebbsfleet United’s ground has been bought by Gravesham council
in what could be the biggest save in the club’s history.
The keys to Stonebridge Road are set to be handed over after
senior councillors agreed a deal for about £400,000.
Fleet bosses and supporters were trying to scrape together the
funds to buy the Northfleet ground themselves before it went under
the hammer at a public auction later this month.
But the council has stepped in at the 11th hour to buy the
freehold from landowners Land Securities – and will secure the
club’s future by giving it a lease thought to be for about 100
years.
Ebbsfleet chairman Duncan Holt said: "This is enormous
news for the club."
Council leader Cllr Mike Snelling said: “We have taken decisive
action to resolve a huge problem which was threatening the very
existence of our local football club."
The council will charge only a peppercorn rent of £1 a year,
saving the club £5,000 annually.
For more details pick up a copy of this week's
Gravesend Messenger newspaper.
Thursday, September 17 2009
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