Council buys Ebbsfleet's football ground

Gravesham Borough Council has bought Stonebridge Road football ground to secure the future for Ebbsfleet United.

The council has stepped in to buy the freehold on the ground from Land Securities. It was to have gone to auction next week and the club was trying to raise the money to buy the ground itself. The council will now give the club a longer lease than the 16 years left on its present lease and the club will only have to pay a peppercorn rent (£1 a year) instead of its present charge.

However, if the club does raise sufficient money to buy the ground by the set deadline the council will reappraise the situation in the interests of the club and assist the club in achieving its objectives.

The decision will enable the club to plan a major refurbishment of the stadium without the need to move. The council has been working with the club for two years studying all possible venues in the borough but no suitable site has been identified.

Council leader Cllr Mike Snelling said: "We have taken decisive action to resolve a huge problem which was threatening the very existence of our local football club. This gives the opportunity to secure the club's long term future as well as protecting the site in community as a major sporting asset.

"I am delighted that we have been able to have done this in this financial climate. We have been able to proceed with this by using reserves at no charge to the council tax payers of the borough."

The ground will be withdrawn from the auction following the completion of the sale on Thursday.

Gravesham Borough Council's Cabinet approved the purchase on Monday.

Duncan Holt , Chairman of Ebbsfleet United said: "We are delighted the council has managed to help the football club in this way, obviously we will redouble our efforts to raise the money ourselves but to have this option leaves the football club in a very strong position. We would like to thank the council for helping us put this together under some very tight time constraints. "

Brian Kilcullen of Fleet Group Development added: "The great thing about this deal is we are securing the ground and it opens up many positive opportunities for us. We have always had the uncertainty of not being in control of our long-term future and it is fantastic news for the town that we are now. It is a landmark event in our long history."