A LEADING figure at Marton Institute has admitted that it was regrettable that members were not informed about the planned sell-off of land behind the historical building.

In August, The Citizen reported how some members at the 100-year-old institute had been shocked to discover a notice in the foyer informing them that land, including the tennis courts and pavilion behind the club, was to be sold.

The decision was voted for by seven to four by the institute's council, made up of six elected members and four non-elected trustees of the institute, plus the president Mr Harold Moore.

The sale was to Atkinson P H and Son for £180,000 with plans to spend £35,000 on building a new pavilion. At present the plans are to build two semi-detached houses on the land, but future plans must come before the council for approval. Ken Oldfield, chairman of the council and trustee at the Institute, said that a decision not to inform the members of the club was "probably taken early on."

"But with hindsight I think that was regrettable," he said. The decision to sell the land was made on the basis of business.

"It was not economic to keep the land maintained. For example, we already lose around £7,000 per year keeping the bowling greens maintained.

"The tennis courts went into decline around seven years ago. And we have a constant problem with vandalism on the pavilion, which we recently spent around £3,000 on improving.

Standing on the weed infested tennis courts, pointing to a patch of derelict land, Mr Oldfield said: "How can you call this an asset to the club? A group of around ten kids were messing around the other night and as you can see, the window is smashed."

In last week's report, The Citizen mistakenly indicated the committee, not the council, had voted for the sale of the land. We apologise for any embarrassment caused to members of the committee who have no connection with the council.