There's no place like home for Gloucestershire (From Gazette Series)

There's no place like home for Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club has taken a huge step forward this week by finally buying its home ground.

The club has officially purchased the freehold of the County Ground at Nevil Road in Bristol from its landlord, Royal & Sun Alliance (R&SA).

This means that the club now owns its home ground and is no longer a tenant to another organisation.

Alan Haines, the chairman of the club said: "This is excellent news for us. To re-acquire the ground is extremely important to us and is something that we have been seeking to achieve for a number of years.

"This move will help to secure our future and give us significantly increased flexibility in taking the club forward.

"We are grateful for the excellent relationship we have with the R&SA who have agreed ground advertising with the club for the next five years."

The established sports and fitness club that is located at the ground is now directly controlled by Gloucestershire CCC and further investment in the overall sporting facility can now be anticipated.

The club sold the ground to R&SA in 1976 and has since enjoyed a long leasehold interest (which expires in 2042) at a favourable rent.

Both parties have agreed to the purchase for the reversionary freehold interest, which also reflects the long leasehold interest.

This means the club will not be able to sell the ground within 15 years without the R&SA's involvement (by 2019).