A SQUASH fan who was banned from playing at his local sports centre following a dispute over a £5.50 late cancellation charge has described the situation as “bureaucracy gone mad”.

David Pinkney had been playing squash at Oakleaf Sports Complex at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham every week for 30 years when the disagreement over the pre-booked court arose in April.

The sports enthusiast had been forced to cancel his regular Saturday evening squash session due to illness and called the sports complex on the Thursday evening to avoid being liable for a cancellation charge.

Unfortunately, nobody answered the phone and, when he was able to call back, he missed the 48-hour deadline by an hour-and-a half and was told he would have to pay the £5.50 charge.

Outraged, Mr Pinkney, of School Aycliffe, refused to pay and appealed to the leisure centre’s owners Great Aycliffe Town Council (GATC).

His appeal was eventually turned down by the council’s general appeals sub-committee last month.

“It was immediately evident from their attitude and demeanour that they considered my appeal a total waste of time,” he said

“The assistant chairman actually stating that he 'wished I had just paid up for the sake of £5.50 and saved all this bother.’

“I found this slightly ironic as the council's own employees had, to-date,' sent me no fewer than 13 letters at a postage cost alone of £5.97.”

Mr Pinkney caved in and paid the fine but he remains unhappy.

“We all know £5.50 is nothing nowadays but it is the principle of the matter,” said Mr Pinkney, who estimates he spends about £1,250 a year on membership, court fees and refreshments at Oakleaf Sports Complex.

“It is bureaucracy gone mad. You would think they would take individual circumstances into consideration and would award loyalty.”

Andrew Bailey, clerk of GATC, said the cancellation policy is a condition of sports facility hire and that Mr Pinkney’s membership had been suspended as he ignored numerous requests to pay the £5.50 fee.

He said Mr Pinkney was still able to play squash and use the facilities during the appeal process, adding: “His appeal to have the charges waived was not upheld during a hearing by the council’s general appeals sub-committee, at which Mr Pinkney presented his case.

“On subsequent payment of the outstanding debt, Mr Pinkney’s membership was reinstated and he continues to use the Oakleaf Complex facilities.”