Rents wrangle could see club facilities close

Warout Stadium’s bar and facilities operator forced to cancel bookings

One of Glenrothes’ oldest club facilities could be forced to close its doors next month after nearly 50 years, leaving scores of people unsure whether their functions will go ahead.

Fife Council served notice on Glenrothes Social and Recreation Club’s committee, which runs Warout Stadium’s bar and facilities, but has now issued a reprieve allowing the club to stay open until the end of July.

Club secretary Robert Bauld said that still leaves them with no option but to cancel around a dozen bookings, leaving unhappy customers to make alternative arrangements.

The crisis is the culmination of a fiveyear rents wrangle between the club and the local authority.

Previously, the council-owned stadium, which has been home to Glenrothes Football Club since it was built in 1974, had been operated on a 40-year lease. However, since 2014 the club has operated on a short-term agreement because of a long-standing dispute over the amount of rent demanded by the local authority.

Mr Bauld said unless an agreement is found in the next week or so, the club will be forced to close its bar and social facilities for good.

“Fife Council wants to charge us £14,500 a year in rent, which we feel is completely unrealistic,” said Mr Bauld.

“We have recently made an agreement to pay £9,000, which is better than the council would get off anyone else – but the council will only accept that if we take on all refurbishment responsibilities for the building, which has not had a penny spent on it since it was built.

“The council owns the building yet has contributed nothing in decades to its structural upkeep. It has not even installed the disabled access that was earmarked 20 years ago.

“We estimate at least £50,000 would be needed for improvements but we simply can’t take that on.”

It is understood Glenrothes FC would retain use of the pitch and training facilities if the facility closes.

Michael O’Gorman, Fife Council’s service manager for estates, said: “For a number of years the council and partner organisations have actively tried to support the Warout Stadium committee but the club has been unable to develop a viable business model.

“Despite lengthy negotiations and the offer of a subsidised rent proposal – in recognition of the wider community benefit – no agreement has been reached on the lease renewal terms.

“In the short term, the property will be remarketed. Glenrothes Area Committee has recognised the potential for the stadium and its adjacent land by commissioning an external consultancy study to explore possible opportunities.

“The community will be consulted to ensure the views of locals are represented in any long-term plans.”

Fife Council wants to charge us £14,500 a year in rent, which we feel is completely unrealistic. CLUB SECRETARY ROBERT BAULD