The future of Cam Sports Club has been secured thanks to a funding injection from Cam Parish Council using money received from developers.
Cam Parish Council has purchased the sports ground but it will be owned, managed and maintained by Cam Sports Club and be used by the community as usual. Before the purchase, the club had been managing with on-going, short-term leases for many years.
The land will be registered with Fields in Trust, ensuring it can only be used for sport or recreational activities and will always be there for the benefit of the community and nature. The registration creates a legal deed preventing disposal or development without consent from Fields in Trust and is one of the strongest protections available for community recreational land.
Cam Parish Council made the investment of £100,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which is a charge collected from new developments in the parish, intended to help fund local infrastructure and facilities that support the growing population.
Cam Parish Council is in a unique position with regard to CIL, as the high level of housing development in the area has resulted in a comparatively large CIL fund. This puts the council in a strong position to invest in meaningful projects that deliver long-term benefits for both current and future residents.
As part of this commitment, Cam Parish Council resolved to allocate a portion of the CIL fund to secure the purchase of Cam Sports Ground — a much-loved and well-used community asset.
A spokesperson for Cam Sports Club said they were excited that after 100-years of sport at the ground they had finally been able to secure the freehold for the entire grounds.
They continued: “Owning the land will now enable us to improve the sport and leisure facilities for all its members and our visitors to the club. These are exciting times for the future of Cam Sports Club.”
Cllr Jerry Fowler, Chair of Cam Parish Council, said the council was proud and delighted to have invested CIL funding into securing the purchase of the sports ground.
He continued: “This is a vital community asset, and securing its future has been a key priority for the Parish Council.
“The ground is carefully maintained by Cam Sports Club, whose continued commitment and stewardship will ensure it remains a safe, welcoming and much-loved green space for the local community, and a place where families, sports teams and residents can come together.
“By dedicating the ground as a Fields in Trust site, we are securing its future and protecting it from development, so that generations to come can enjoy this special place.
“This is a significant and positive moment for Cam and a lasting investment in our community’s health, wellbeing, and quality of life.”