Published: 01/09/2010 09:57 - Updated: 02/09/2010 16:46

Two pensioners who have ‘dedicated their lives’ volunteering at a local sports club have been told they could have to pay more than £200,000 to the council.

 

Trustees of Milton Keynes Sports Club, Trevor Leach, 74, and retired doctor Vanda Joss, 63, are being taken to court by Milton Keynes Council as it claims the pair are personally liable for a debt of £120,000 owed for the hire of sports facilities at Woughton-on-the-Green.

 

This is because both signed a lease on the council facilities in 1992, including the modern hockey pitches, which are regularly used by MKDons for training as well as amateur hockey and tennis players.

 

In a courtroom packed with friends and supporters at the first hearing on Friday, solicitors for the council warned this amount could rise to more than £200,000 when court fees and other costs are considered.

 

The disputed amount is for accumulated additional costs of the hire agreements, which were introduced in 2008 but backdated to 2003.

 

Defending solicitors said the pair deny they have any liability for these, and they also dispute the amount demanded if they are found liable.

During proceedings, Judge McIntyre asked why the council had waited since 2008 to bring the case to court, and representatives responded by saying the payable figure of £120,000 had been agreed by both parties at a meeting in March - something which Mr Leach and Dr Joss deny.

 

The sports club says it cannot pay the debt in one payment, as any profit is put straight back into the club, and has been trying to negotiate with the council to pay it back but did not agree to anything during the March meeting.

 

Judge McIntyre then adjourned proceedings for time to consider the case.

 

After the hearing Phillipa Callcut, vicechairman of the sports club, said: “I think it really did show the council is prepared to pursue this to the bitter end.

 

“We’ve just heard that by the time this ends in full court they will owe £200,000, and Trevor and Vanda are reeling.

 

“We’re calling on everybody to show their support as they have given their lives to Milton Keynes.

 

“I think unfair is an understatement. I can’t express the disgust at a council that will do this - this is their life savings.”

 

Mr Leach simply said: “Horrific, absolutely horrific.”

 

A visibly upset Dr Joss emerged to lots of support from friends, who said they will do all they can to help them through the proceedings.

 

One member of the tennis club said: “However long it is until the case continues, it’s that long for them to be worrying about this money.

 

“All the members of the club would contribute financially, but it’s a vast sum of money.”

 

Another tennis club member said: “We are amateur, wemake no money out of it but put money in.

 

“We try to get things into the community and get people to come and play but the council is undermining us.”

 

The council said it cannot comment until after the case is heard, but it did say: “The council is obliged and is fully committed to providing sports facilities to the residents and users in Milton Keynes that are of a high quality, readily accessible and professionally managed.

 

“Equally, those organisations and individuals to whom the council leases this type of facility are obliged to comply with the contractual terms of their occupation and to run the facilities in a commercially viable way that will allow them to meet those contractual terms.

 

“One part of that is to pay rent and other sums due under the lease in full and on time.

“That way the interests of the taxpayers as well as everyone else in Milton Keynes are met.”