ECHO COMMENT: Bitter court battle has put Charlton Kings cricket club's future in doubt

THE saga of Ryeworth Fields has already led to the sort of drawn-out court saga that neither side would have wanted.

With the legal battle still continuing after a High Court judge ordered a two-month adjournment, neither party in the row was keen to talk to the Echo yesterday.

On one side is Charlton Kings cricket club, which many years ago expanded its playing area to include land owned by Henry Arthur Mitchell.

On the other is Mr Mitchell’s widow, Jacki, who says that since his death, the club has no right of ownership and the land should pass back to her.

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Whatever were or weren’t Mr Mitchell’s long-term wishes for this part of Ryeworth Fields, there can be doubt about the potential victims here.

The case has already cost the club £80,000 and its very future could be at stake. That doesn’t just mean an adult team could lose the club they love, but dozens of youngsters as well.

The historic club currently coaches around 150 children aged between six and 17, with many playing at county or district level. They are the current county cup holders at under-11 level.

Its financial position is so precarious that fund-raising is already under way and a race day is being held at Cheltenham Festival in a fortnight.

It needs the support of all who love cricket in Gloucestershire or an historic club could be lost, whatever the court’s final verdict

Difference

£100,000 may seem like a lot of money to improve a pavement.

With potholes still giving drivers nightmares after the big freeze, aren’t there more important calls on council cash?

But the planned work for the West Promenade is something very different.

The work that has been done on the East Promenade has made a real difference.

It’s not just about the appearance either, with many traders saying the new surface is safer than the previous one.

And with an on-going makeover of the war memorial, the paving will give this key area of the centre of town the finished look it needs and deserves.