irkcudbright Community Tennis Club has been left disappointed that it is still awaiting a decision on whether it will be allowed to buy its home.
The group is looking to take over the St Mary Street site for £1 through the community asset transfer (CAT) process.
But the sub committee of the town’s common good fund deferred making a decision last week to clarify the community council’s stance.
A previous meeting to discuss the application in September was postponed as not enough members were available.
Club secretary, Lily Judge, said: “I am disappointed that a decision was not reached at the meeting as the process has been ongoing on since 2019 and we have worked in partnership with council officials at all stages to ensure we met the criteria to be successful in an CAT application.
“The club does not think the value of the asset is £1, but made that offer on the understanding that when a community takes over responsibility for upgrading, running and improving an asset which the council can longer afford to provide, then the asset is transferred for a nominal amount if all criteria are met.
“The club is of the opinion that the benefit to the community of the social, physical and mental health gains made by participating in its activities cannot be measured in pound sterling.”
She added: “The club has embraced the concept of being a community asset; it has more than doubled the membership, participants in the clubs activities range in age from three to 87, and it reaches out to those with disabilities and those who may have thought tennis was not an activity they could take part in.
“We have not yet had an explanation of the reasoning behind the failure to award a CAT, but would willing to engage in discussion to find out what further steps must be taken to achieve a CAT.”
A report for Thursday’s meeting revealed the council values the land at £100,000.
Community council representative, Lindsay Forbes, said: “The community council is not in favour of this. The community council notes by your own statement the land is being valued at £100,000.
“We think the asset should be leased to the tennis club for a period of 25 years at least and that this should be recorded on the accounts as a note for this going forward in perpetuity.
“There is no safeguard as far as we can see for this land to be returned to the common good fund should the tennis club fold in the future.”
Dee and Glenkens councillor Andy McFarlane pointed out that the stated proposal had the support of the community council.
The meeting was told by officials conditions could be added to give the common good fund first refusal on the land should the club fold or put it up for sale.
However, it was agreed to defer a decision until November so that the views of the community council could be made “crystal clear”.
Once a decision is reached, the next hurdle will be to seek agreement from the council’s finance, procurement and transformation committee.
Mr Forbes said: “That will no way impinge on activities of the tennis club. They are doing perfectly well just now and are doing a super job.”
