The Club has become aware of various rumours, speculations and statements on various Social Media platforms with regard to Burton Park Wanderers (BPW) use of Latimer Park (LP).
Continuing the close liaison and regular communication between the two clubs, the KTFC owner and the BPW Chairperson have been in contact today to address these speculations and to provide clarity regarding this issue.
The Club has not informed BPW that a forthcoming game would be their last ‘at Latimer Park until next March.’
By way of background, the Club first came to Latimer Park as a Licensee of BPW, which held the Lease of LP. In 2017, BPW’s Lease was terminated and the Club was offered a Lease. In the interim, the Club was permitted to stay at LP under a Tenancy at Will. The Club was granted a Lease in November 2017. The 2017 Lease requires the Club to “share those parts…..reasonably required for footballing activities” by BPW with BPW. That “sharing” is subject to, amongst other things, BPW not acquiring any tenancy or rights over LP under the Landlord and Tennant Act 1954. The terms of any sharing agreement between the Club and BPW have to be approved by the Landlord.
In 2017, the Club entered into a Licence to Occupy parts of LP (including the Club’s former Boardroom) by BPW. That Licence remains in place.
BPW’s current position within the Non-League System, does not require them to play on the main pitch at LP. Consequently, they were moved to the main back pitch last season, to save wear and tear of the Main Pitch. BPW have continued to play some games on the Main Pitch, especially whilst the back pitches recover from remedial and improvement works carried out over the summer.
The Club recognised that works were required to the back pitches last season and subsequently weedkilling, then seeding, were carried out in March with topdressing (with 90 tons of sand), and fertilisation carried out since then. All works have been carried out by, and under the recommendation of, a professional grounds maintenance company. Works are ongoing with a view to improving the back pitches and bringing the standard up to that of the main pitch (which is also to undergo further improvement works going forward). To date, the improvement works and ongoing maintenance, have cost in excess of £12,000. These works are unprecedented during the life of LP as a football stadium.
BPW have continued to play some games on the Main Pitch whilst works were in progress on the back pitch. However, with the likelihood of winter weather coming in soon, and the need to safeguard the Main Pitch, BPW are to use the back pitch from later this month until March. By then, hopefully the Spring weather will allow BPW games to take place on the Main Pitch again, without compromising ongoing improvements or putting the Club’s home fixtures at increased risk of postponement due to adverse pitch conditions.
Fans will be all too aware of past issues with the Main Pitch, during the worst and wettest of the Winter months, leading to postponements and fixture congestion when games are rearranged later in the season (which may affect income, points collected and final league position).
If there is any change to the above going forward, or any further developments fans need to be made aware of, a further statement will be made at the time.
UTP
