SIR — We at Minehead Football Club fully supported the Minehead Town Council decision last year to demolish the existing building and provide temporary accomodation whilst a new bulding is constructed, which can be used by a wider community.

Several of our members volunteered to be on the working committee in order to make this happen. For some reason this offer was declined.

However, the goal posts have now been moved. The temporary accomodation cannot be provided due to planning and cost issues, which we understand, and also at the last council meeting the wording was changed to say we will AIM to provide a new building.

Despite this major change, they still wish to demolish the whole building in May. What is the rush?

The benefit to the town council if the building is demolished would be the savings on the rates (approx £8,500) and any insurance premiums, and it would seem that this is the reason.

Last year Minehead Football Club paid a total rent of £2,700 for use of the changing rooms and pitch, plus use of the small bar on first team match days only. In addition, the club pays all the electric and water bills.

On Sunday February 13, Minehead Football Club paid out £1,000 to put in place an Asbestos Management Plan, which makes the changing rooms and small social area perfectly safe and fully useable.

The part of the building under the grandstand can now be used for many years in this condition.

Minehead Football Club would ask that it is permitted to keep using this part of the building for next season, whilst it is given the opportunity to seek funding to refurbish this section. We believe that through football and sports associations we can attract sufficent funding.

The refurbishment can take into account the need for a wider community use, which the club would welcome.

Demolishing this building saves Minehead Town Council money but leaves Minehead Football Club homeless.

Do we knock down everything that costs us money? The area of the building we require is safe.

In the current climate, can every councillor put their hand on their heart and say a new building will be built? The council has secured no funding to date, and it smells like another Aquasplash.

It looks like Minehead Youth Club is going to be lost, and if we lose another facility for the youngsters in Minehead, where will they go?

We run teams from Under 8s to Under 16s plus senior and girls' teams, a total of over 300 youngsters.

We cannot wait five to ten years for a building that may or may not be built.

Minehead Town Council needs to delay the demolition and give us the opportunity to obtain funding that can save the town an awful lot of money.

Adrian Giblett,

Minehead Football Club.