Pinner Rugby Club has warned that more than 70 years of history could come to an end following a dispute with Harrow Council over pitch maintenance and hire costs.
The club says it spent £6,000 repairing and maintaining its pitches last year after claiming the council had not carried out the usual work over the summer.
In a message shared with supporters, the club said: “By August last year Harrow Council had not undertaken any maintenance of the pitches over the summer and the pitches at the club were unsafe to play on.”
It added: “Pinner Rugby Club spent £6000 on repairing and maintaining the pitch so that it was ready for the start of the season.”
Club launches petition
According to the club, it asked the council to offset the money it had spent against its pitch rental costs, saying a similar arrangement had previously been made in 2018.
The club claimed that request had been refused and said it had since received a bill for the forthcoming season.
It also said: “If we do not have a pitch to play on, we do not have a rugby club. A thriving Senior team and over 70 Mini’s and Juniors will have nowhere to play. Over 70 years of history will come to an end.”
A petition titled Save Pinner Rugby Club from Closure has now been launched and can be found here:https://c.org/CvLKCxnvvL
Harrow Council responds
Harrow Online approached Harrow Council for a response to the concerns raised by the club.
Council leader Cllr Paul Osborn said: “I recognise the important role that Pinner Rugby Football Club plays in the local community and the positive contribution it makes to residents of all ages.
“This is an exceptional case for which I have instructed officers to offset the money that has been spent against future pitch hire. We also expect assurances from the club that no future works will be undertaken without the Council’s prior agreement so that the pitch can be properly managed, protected and maintained for all users to enjoy.
“Our focus is on resolving this matter urgently, ensuring the club can continue to use the facility and play its valued role in the community.”
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Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
Harrow Online reaches hundreds of thousands of readers each month and has a social media audience of more than 200,000 followers.
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