Evenwood Cricket Club was allowed to use the Welfare Ground free of charge in 2016. The parish council waived the fee when youths knocked down a boundary wall and trashed a scorebox.
Relations between the club and the parish council have been strained in the past when the club could not find the funds to pay their ground rental in 2015.
Last month’s (December) parish meeting heard how the cricketers had not paid a water bill for £140 dating from June 2016. Parish councillors expressed their frustration.
Cllr Anne Lyons said: “We have the same tussle ever year – it’s awful. We wait until the end of the cricket season and they still don’t pay. We have done everything – reduced the rent; stopped the rent. They should be made to pay penalties.”
Cllr Mary Prince added: “All cricket teams everywhere else have to pay to use their facilities.”
The parish chairwoman, Cllr Barbara Nicholson, said: “How many times have we said they can have a free year? We keep on helping them.”
Parish clerk Martin Clark said “Despite requests, the bill is still outstanding. The next rent is due on April 1. We’ve had no rent from the cricketers this year and the balance for the ground is low. If they want us to do work to the area and the pavilion they need to pay us.”
Pipes damaged by yobs need repairing at a cost of £200, he added.
The meeting heard that the annual rent for using the sports pitch was £500. It was suggested that the water bill be added to the rent due in 2017, but councillors rejected this idea.
Cllr Mary Prince said: “No, they need to pay it.”
The meeting heard that new locks could be fitted to the pavilion.
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