A college ousted nine clubs from its Thundersley hall while bidding to boost its own sports facilities, it has emerged.

Several of the organisations have now decamped to Waterside Farm Sports Centre, Canvey, after being turned away from Runnymede Sports Hall, but others are still out in the cold.

The shake-up took place after South East Essex Sixth Form College, in Kiln Road, Thundersley, wanted to apply for a grant to upgrade its sports hall facilities.

This building is on Seevic land to the left of the swimming pool - not to be confused with the council-run Runnymede Hall on the right.

Previously the college shared the sports hall with Castle Point Council under a dual use agreement, but asked if this could be ended to help with grant application chances.

The council - which saved £30,000 in the process - agreed on the firm understanding that the community groups could stay.

However, after the council finished its involvement in the sports hall, the clubs approached Seevic, but got their marching orders.

Castle Point Leisure department then offered to relocate them at Waterside. To raise its sports status, Seevic wanted to apply for a grant and to do so, needed sole use of the hall.

Tony Galloway, head of Castle Point Council's Leisure Services department said: "It was of mutual benefit to us and to them to stop the dual use agreement.

"They would want the hall to use in the grant application and we would be able to save a certain amount of funding through not continuing with the agreement."

Bob Sawyer, the college's director of quality and information systems, said: "Seevic College regrets the circumstances that have affected clubs using the sports hall. It was anticipated that they would cease use of the facility in December 2002."

Published Tuesday October 22, 2002

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