After Charlton fans get the Valley listed as community asset, should Vale fans be next?
After Charlton Athletic fans successfully get their Valley ground re-listed as a community asset, Rob Fielding thinks it’s something for Port Vale supporter groups to consider.
Rob Fielding writes…
The BBC has reported that Charlton fans in dispute with owner Roland Duchâtelet have successfully listed the ground as an asset of community value.
CAST, the Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust made the successful application and the move now means that the supporters would have the automatic right to make the first bid should the ground be sold.
About an Asset of Community Value (ACV)
- The building, or other land, is an asset of community value to “further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community” and it could do so in the future
- A request for an ACV must come from a voluntary or community body with a local connection and relate to land in the local authority’s area, or in the neighbouring local authority’s area
- The listing lasts for five years and, should the ACV be put up for sale, also includes a ‘right to bid’, which can be lodged by the group concerned within a period of six weeks, with finance secured in a period of up to four-and-a-half-months
It’s perhaps something which Port Vale supporters groups could also consider especially in light of the news that Vale fans are about to protest against the way owner Norman Smurthwaite has been running the club.
I am not suggesting that Smurthwaite’s plans are to sell the ground but surely this sort of move is sensible regardless of who owns the club.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.