'Have you asked the vandals to stop while you are deciding?'

A NO show from disgruntled sports players at a village meeting was criticised by councillors.

Members of Evenwood Cricket Club were left upset last month after the parish council put the brakes on their plans to protect equipment with a CCTV system.

The council cited human rights concerns and the need for a public consultation before any possible installation at the Welfare Ground.

The cricket club said the money they had secured for the system would be lost because of a funding cut-off. They also feared the impact of more vandal attacks.

Long-time club supporter and pensioner Dennis Waistell attended last week’s parish meeting to voice his concerns.

He asked councillors: “I would like to know why you won’t allow the cricketers to put up a cameras to stop the vandalism.”

The parish council’s chairwoman, Cllr Barbara Nicholson, replied that the club had not been stopped, adding that councillors were “looking at the right way of doing it”.

She added: “We have asked them to wait until we can look into it.”

Mr Waistell, a regular spectator at home matches, hit back: “Have you asked the vandals to stop while you are deciding?”

He was reminded that the cricket club didn’t own the land – to which he replied: “Neither do you.”

The Welfare Ground is run by the trustees, which are made up of members of the parish council.

Cllr Nicholson said: “That land is for everybody not just the cricketers. It just goes to show because how many cricketers are here tonight? Where are they? They aren’t here. Why?”

Mr Waistell said: “Maybe they are sick and tired of trying or maybe they are playing cricket.”

The cricket club has been at loggerheads with the parish council over a number of issues in the past.