THE coach of a football team in Hampton said they are still waiting to hear when their changing rooms will be reinstated after five years.

The Hampton Rangers FC have received the support of Dr Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham, who has been pressing the council on their behalf.

The club, which has 50-60 boys aged between 13 and 17, has developed its pitch at Hatherop Park, with their own money and a contribution from the council. Their coach for the last six years, Billy Martin, says the changing room block, burnt down by vandals, has never been reinstated, although the council received insurance money for the building.

Mr Martin has been writing to the council since 1999, but said: "all I have had in that time is promises with no one delivering".

The lack of facilities has meant that other clubs have refused to play them and their Under 16’s team had to play outside the borough in the Feltham league because the West Surrey Boys League insisted on the provision of changing rooms.

Mr Martin said: "With respect, the council have been telling me that there is money ring fenced for us for five years."

He said the council did not seem to appreciate the fact that they had got a very good pitch which had only cost them £1,500, with the rest of the funds having been raised by Mr Martin through sponsorship from the company he works for.

He said he had had a "very poor line of communication with the council" and felt he was constantly being passed from pillar to post. He said they had constantly told him they were in the process of consulting with youth groups but said he had never been properly consulted.

He said: “There has been five years of indecision, that really galls me."

Dr Cable has been in touch with Cllr David Marlow and the head of the parks department at the council to find out when they are going to reinstate the club’s facilities and said the council had promised to have a consultation on the matter.

The MP said: "There is a really urgent need for good games facilities for young people in Hampton and one of the best supported local clubs is struggling to meet the obligations by its Junior League."

A spokesman for Richmond Council said they have £60,000 ring fenced to rebuild the pavilion at Hatherop Park and the council have also made an additional £100,000 available for playgrounds and pavilions across the borough. He said the financial allocations would be followed by an independent assessment by ROSPA, the government health and safety quango, and they expect a report in July.

Regarding the consultation, they said although they had initially told Dr Cable that this would begin in June they were now looking at early July for the start of the consultation which would extend through August.

He said: "We have a number of potential partners in the frame as we are looking for a solution which will bring the greatest benefit to the greatest proportion of the community."

He said they were also keen to have the pavilion in use as much as possible so as to prevent vandalism.

He said: "Yes, this has taken some time, but no apologies for that, we need to get this right and it will allow us to consult with the local young people and find out what will work for them."

Mr Martin responded: "Why has it taken them a five years to do this when they have had a youth leader to talk to and an outstanding need? It seems absurd to me. Everyone gives me the support, no one gives me any action."

Cllr Jean Matthews said Mr Martin was not consulted two years ago when when there was a previous consultation about the possibility of a motorcycle track there, but she has told officers to include him in future.