THE Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company came under fire this week, accused of “pricing out” small sports clubs as it opens up former military facilities to the community.

Speaking to the Bordon Herald, the manager of the Royal Oak (Hollywater) senior football team, Chris Ryer, said he feared for the future of sport in the town, adding that there was “no way” his club could afford to pay the prices proposed.

The issue reached fever pitch with plans to convert BOSC pitches, where Royal Oak play, to cater for cricket - a decision Mr Ryer described as “absolutely ludicrous” as Bordon currently has no cricket club.

This could mean the Royal Oak players would have to find elsewhere to play, which would be fine, Mr Ryer said, if it wasn’t for the £60 per hour rate the Regeneration Company quoted him for alternatives, such as the Daly Ground or pitches on Budds Lane.

However, the company said it had no intention of making sports grounds unviable for clubs and would take a “holistic approach” to providing facilities.

Ultimately, though, being a conglomerate of developers Taylor Wimpey and Dorchester Regeneration, the firm is a commercial enterprise and needs to cover costs.

This week a company spokesman insisted that prices were in line with other local clubs and, following recent research, were being reduced at the Daly Ground. When the Herald asked how much someone might be charged to rent a football pitch from it, the company said “£40”.

Another “major concern” is that, being a business, the firm might hike prices up at a later date.

Also, Mr Ryer suggested it may not maintain pitch quality with the same care as a public entity, like a council. Instead, Mr Ryer fears the onus would steadily fall on the clubs themselves to maintain grounds.

“The whole thing stinks,” he said. “I can see this being a disaster.”

However, he hopes that something can be done to find a solution in which his team has a future: “We want to put a stop to it, common sense has to prevail. We’ve been going since 1974. In the end we’re going to be priced out of playing our game.”

Asked about how plausible it would be to just pay to use Regeneration Company-operated pitches at the rate he has been quoted, Mr Ryer said no small club could afford such costs.

A spokesman for the Whitehill and Bordon Regeneration Company, said: “Prior to us taking over the Garrison facilities they were rarely opened up for public use. Since taking over the site we have endeavoured to make sure as much of it as possible is available to the public, local community groups and clubs.

“Running and staffing sports facilities is expensive and we have to charge a fee to cover our costs. Our aim has been to make these competitive for the area.

“We encourage local clubs to use any of the suitable facilities and we welcome conversations with regards to regular use of specific amenities. The regeneration of the area is a long-term plan and some facilities will inevitably be moved or replaced, but we will be giving plenty of notice ahead of this happening. It is better to open up facilities in the short to medium term, than leave them unused for years.”

On the accusation of pricing out small clubs, a firm spokesman said: “We want the local community and local clubs to use all the facilities on offer and aim to make pricing as competitive as possible.

“The fees are in line with other local grounds. The Daly Ground prices are being reduced. The company is working with the district and town councils and so there is a holistic approach. They are working in partnership to find alternatives while the development evolves.”

The company manages the pitches in Budds Lane and at the Daly Ground only. The spokesman said that changes to BOSC facilities would cater for both cricket and football, suggesting a compromise.

Mr Ryer said the Daly Ground would be a “beautiful” place to play and, with a growing population “we’re going to have lots of good footballers”.

“It’s a lovely little community stadium,” he said. “It’s something that Bordon could be proud of.”