Furious Southchurch Park Croquet Club members are fighting to keep playing this season following a knockout blow by Southend Council.
No club for our clubs - members of the Southchurch Park Crocquet club Picture: ANNA LUKALA
They have been ordered to uproot their hoops after their rickety storage shed was condemned as unsafe by Southend Council.
As a special concession, the 35 club members are being allowed to keep a limited amount of equipment in the ranger's office at Southchurch Park until the season ends in six weeks.
But they are still desperately seeking a home for chairs, umbrellas, a gazebo and many other items essential to their games.
The thriving club was launched three years ago by Iris Freeman, 70, of Stable Mews, Southend.
It was established with the help of a £5,000 lottery grant and now operates on two pitches rented from Southend Council at Southchurch Park.
A Southend Borough Council Spokesperson, said: "Southchurch Park Croquet Club was given permission to use an old tennis pavilion free of charge as a goodwill gesture.
"Due to the age of the wooden pavilion it is now no longer suitable for use as a storage facility. "We will work with the croquet club prior to next season and provide help where possible."
Anyone who can help out should contact Iris Freeman on 01702 347374.
Published Wednesday August 25, 2004
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