A peaceful protest has been organised following the controversial decision to evict a Scout group from their purpose-built premises.
Supporters of the 1st Newton Aycliffe Scouts are to come out in protest this Saturday (September 2) against the Newton Aycliffe Scouts Supporters Association (NASSA) committee's decision to remove the group from their building.
The Scouts were given 28 days' notice on August 1 to permanently leave the building on Bluebell Way, some 40 years after a fundraising effort gathered the money to build the hall.
Read more: Newton Aycliffe Scouts: Committee defends eviction decision
Out of the three groups that use the space, the 1st Newton Aycliffe Scouts are the only ones who have been asked to leave – confusing not only the Scout group but also local politicians.
In response to the news, Durham County Councillor Neville Jones has launched the ‘SOS - Save Our Scouts’ campaign, with hopes the group will be allowed to return following a peaceful protest outside Scout Hall on Saturday, September 2.
For Neville, a former Scout himself, the issue is a personal one as his father, John Jones, was the man who had the initial idea of building the hall to be the Scouts permanent home.
Cllr Jones has previously said: “The centre took a lot of effort to fundraise for and to build, and it was built for the sole purpose of being for the good of all Scouts.
“The idea that we are now excluding some Scouts from a Scout building is totally unacceptable.”
The NASSA Committee statement, released on August 29, stated the eviction notice was not given “without reason” and complies with the constitution.
Part of the statement reads: “On Tuesday, August 1, the committee debated and passed a motion to dis-affiliate the 1st Newton Aycliffe Scout Group from the Newton Aycliffe Scout Supporters Association.
“This decision was not taken lightly or without reason and fully complies with the constitution.
“Twenty-eight days’ notice to leave the premises was given to the scout group. The constitution of NASSA allows for an appeal to be lodged during this 28-day period - no such appeal was received by the end of the 28 days.
“Correspondence was received, querying the terms of the notice - however, no request for an appeal was mentioned. Neither of the other two groups affiliated to NASSA have been asked to leave.”
However, the 1st Newton Aycliffe Scouts had released a statement prior to NASSA’s defence on August 27, claiming the group's eviction was not in line with the constitution.
The statement reads: “Thank you to everyone who has been in touch offering support regarding us being asked to leave the Scout Centre.
Read next:
- Newton Aycliffe Scouts: Devastation as committee evicts group
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“We are deeply disappointed by the decision of the committee to give us notice to leave the premises, especially when, in our opinion, it has not been done in line with the constitution.
Not only do they not have 'good and sufficient reason' as required, but they have not allowed us our right to a hearing.
“We have written to the management committee asking them to let us know on what grounds they have come to this decision, as well as requesting the hearing specified in the constitution, but the only response we have had is to confirm that the decision stands and to remove our property from the building by the deadline they have given, or the locks will be changed.”
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