SHALDON football bosses are calling for councillors 'to step up a gear,' in sorting out a longstanding financial wrangle that has left players with a leaking tumbledown changing room. It has got so bad for Shaldon FC and Broadmeadow Under 11s that regularly use the King George V pitch that players are refusing to change in the hut that was put up as a 'temporary measure,' more than four years ago. Before that, players were using a redundant tearoom left over by contractors. It is hoped that forthcoming meetings will spell a change of fortune for the ground, dubbed 'the field of dreams,' because of the long-held hopes of improvements. New facilities have been on the cards since the early nineties when more than £30,000 was handed over by SWW as compensation for the demolition of the scout hut and ongoing works as part of its Clean Sweep campaign. Now Teignbridge Council want to offer an extra £71,500 towards the maintenance and upkeep if Shaldon Parish Council agrees to take over responsibility for the recreational ground. But the football club is getting increasingly frustrated at playing the waiting game. Chairman John Campbell said: 'The reason for all this goes back decades and we have been waiting a long time. 'It has got to the point now when players are refusing to change in the hut, it leaks, has no showers or toilets. 'New facilities would not just be for the use of the football clubs but for all of Shaldon, for now and the future.' Shaldon parish and district councillor, Chris Clarance said that the issue is complicated by the fact that the transfer of the land would also include part of the sea wall adjacent to the slipway, the play park and other small areas of land. 'This has serious implications for the parish council and takes us into realms of considerable sums of money. 'It is my feeling that this offer is not something that the parish council would go with. If it was just the playing field and not the rest than they may look on it with a more favourable light, 'We would all like to see better facilities at the playing fields but I am doubtful that this is the way forward,' he said. The issue will be discussed by Shaldon parish council at its meeting on Tuesday and also by the district's Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on March 7.
