A RUGBY club has warned it will begin legal proceedings against a troubled parish council – if works to return a drainage pond to its former state do not get under way by the end of the month.

Moresby Rugby Union’s pitch has become 'unusable' due to flooding caused by an eight-foot deep hole dug next to the club’s pitch without planning permission.

It was created by Moresby Parish councillors Kyle and Ian Thornley, who say they wanted to drain water from the nearby allotments.

Following a number of heated council meetings, two parish councillors  – Janice Ogilvie and Brian Parke – resigned last month and two new councillors - Dave Coward and Graham Wilson – have now been co-opted onto the council.

Parish clerk Chris Shaw has also resigned with effect from April 1, 2023 and Becx Carter has been appointed locum clerk.

At a Moresby Parish Council meeting on Monday, one concerned resident said: “We’re still in the same boat. A big hole full of water. A rugby pitch no one can play on and kids’ lives still in danger.”

Another outraged member of the public said: “It was agreed in previous meetings that it would be fenced off. It still hasn’t been done. There are no flotation devices or any safety measures, whatsoever.”

Rae Tomlinson, of Moresby RUFC, said: “We would like to give the parish council the opportunity to correct what is required, in line with what Copeland Council said about a lack of planning application.

“The club’s financial position is worsening. We’ve had a moderate Christmas. We’ve lost the flow of income that is the fixed payment paid by Bransty Football Club because we have got an agreement with them to provide the facilities.

“We can’t provide the facilities because the pitch is unplayable and will be for the foreseeable future. Therefore Bransty have terminated that arrangement.

“The implications on the club are multiple thousands of pounds of lost income. We have lost the income of Moresby Football Club.

“I outlined three months ago that the club would do whatever possible to help the parish council rectify the work that has been done. We gave a date of January 31.

“What we can’t do is just sit here and allow the financial circumstances to lead to the closure of the club.

“We are not joking about this. We have got a relatively small pool of money. That is draining away because we are currently losing money.

“In the foreseeable future, if we carry on as we are, the club won’t be here. We are not going to sit back and let the whole thing collapse around our ears.

“The club’s only course of action is to pursue the owners of the land legally. On January 31, we will start that process. We are preparing the drafting of those letters.

“I don’t want to do this. The right thing to do is for the parish council to get on with it and rectify it.”

Chairman Nick Troughton said: “I hear what you say. We have started to get some of the underground structures removed.”

Mr Tomlinson replied: “The parish council has got three weeks to avoid me sending these letters. I don’t want to do that.

”Why can’t we make a move? We are now in the last chance saloon.”

Councillors voted in favour of the following proposals:

  • Moresby Parish Council will pay the restoration costs of up to £9,500 to remove the underground drainage, fill the pond and the install other necessary drainage and pay for a pump in the short term, as soon as possible, and;
  • The parish council will follow this up with legal advice to refill the public purse

Moresby Rugby Union Club agreed to pause starting legal proceedings, if the proposals are followed through.

READ MORE: Moresby RUFC at risk after pitch floods due to drainage pond

READ MORE: Concerns raised after children seen on frozen drainage pond at Moresby