AN AGREEMENT that enabled a company to take over the running of the Badgers Hill football ground in Frome could be revoked amid a dispute over the lease.
An extraordinary meeting of Frome Town Council (FTC) has been called over the matter, set to take place from 6pm on December 10, at Frome Town Hall.
It comes after in July, an agreement was reached between FTC and Badgers Hill Limited (BHL) to lease the ground to the company.
To enable 2025/26 football season matches to take place at the ground, a ‘tenancy at will’ agreement was agreed while the full lease document was finalised.
However, that has not yet been completed, and FTC wants to discuss “urgent next steps” – including the possible revocation of the lease agreement.
A report to the emergency meeting said after the council agreed to lease the ground to BHL, with an option to buy, chair of the company and the club, Courtney Fong, disputed the site’s valuation.
As discussions continued, the temporary lease was in place, which required BHL to pay rent in four equal instalments, to have permission in writing to carry out any alteration or addition to the property, to keep the property in good repair and make good any damages, and to act in a reasonable and responsible manner.
But the report to the council said an inspection by FTC facilities manager Alastair Findlay, raised “concerns” over a lack of health and safety processes in place, particularly at the clubhouse.
Following the commissioning and sharing of health and safety and fire risk assessments with BHL, the report to FTC said “there is little evidence that this guidance has been followed”.
READ MORE: Frome Town AFC company takes over lease of Badgers Hill Stadium
READ MORE: Badgers Hill – home of Frome Town AFC – to be leased with option to buy
It also said it has become “clear that works to the clubhouse have been carried out without landlord’s consent”, such as the removal of a suspended ceiling, reconfiguration of entrances, studding installed in the skittle alley area, and recarpeting of the former gym.
Concerns over public liability insurance in place at the ground are also detailed in the report to FTC.
The club has also asked for a deferment on the first rent instalment, the report said, amid a “challenging time” for BHL, and that Mr Fong promised a financial summary that “was not forthcoming”.
Meanwhile, BHL has requested the rent be waived, as the heating at the clubhouse is not fully operational, so limited opportunities to bring in revenues from events and community engagement.
It said “given that the council is effectively restricting the club’s trading opportunities, the rent due should not just be deferred, it should be waived”, and that rent “should only become payable when the premises are fully operational”.
The council, following legal advice, has called the extraordinary meeting to discuss next steps, with the report concluding: “BHL have repeatedly refused to pay rent, first claiming they could not afford to do so and then claiming that due to the lack of heating in the clubhouse, the council was effectively constraining their trading activities and should not charge rent until it was operational.
“However, the site was effectively ‘sold as seen’ and at the time of taking on the tenancy, the lack of heating was known.
“It is the responsibility of the tenant to ensure they have carried out the relevant due diligence before signing a tenancy agreement and therefore, the view that the council should bear some responsibility is not one that we should accept.”
Badgers Hill has been the subject of some controversy in recent months…
It added: “BHL is in clear breach of its tenancy and despite information being received that there are new personnel involved with the management of Badgers Hill Stadium, there is no evidence that they are taking the management of this facility seriously.
“The site needs investment or will deteriorate – there is no sign of that coming.
“This does not build confidence for the future and the situation should not be allowed to continue.”
The report recommends cancelling the exclusive arrangement allowing for BHL to negotiate a full lease for the stadium, and to invite expressions of interest from others in the ground.
FTC would “terminate BHL’s tenancy of the clubhouse and close it if deemed necessary”, if the report is followed, allowing Frome Town AFC to use the pitch and outbuildings.
The club, meanwhile, is advertising the clubhouse for bookings in 2026 on social media.
Your Leveller has approached Frome Town AFC/Badgers Hill Limited for comment.
READ MORE: Frome news from your Somerset Leveller
The people in charge were those who pushed hardest for change. If they are finding the operational realities overwhelming, it says a lot about the actual demands of the job. Stadium Manager has already resigned and volunteers are stepping back after barely six months – it’s not simply a matter of fresh paint and online enthusiasm. And the last time the club’s ambition took priority over stability, Badgers Hill faced the very real threat of repossession.