The future of the Urchfont Village Cricket Club has been secured after the club signed a new 125-year lease for their ground.

At the club’s AGM the new lease for the Newsyde Ground, which is sublet from Urchfont Parish Council, was signed and paid in full on the night – with a pot of peppercorns.

It was obtained by the club through the combined effort and support of several different parties including Wiltshire Council, Urchfont Parish Council and the new owners of Urchfont Manor.

Club chairman Dave Mottram, who has been in charge for the past three years, said: “The parish council can’t give us a rent-free lease, so it has been given to us at peppercorn rent which is nominal.

“It is great that the club has a lease for the next 125 years – if I see 25 of them I’ll be pleased.”

Nicky Mitchell, chairman of Urchfont Parish Council, was thanked for her role in negotiating the lease from the owners of Urchfont Manor after Wiltshire Council’s decision to close and sell Urchfont Manor Education College.

She said: “I’m pleased that the club has a new lease and that we will be able to keep this great facility within the village.

“We are also very grateful to the owners of Urchfont Manor for leasing it to the parish council in the first place.”

The cricket club committee also reported at the AGM another successful season on the field in 2014 along with the club’s plans for the 2015 season.

These include having a second team in Wiltshire League division six as well as the established side in division one.

The club is always looking for new members of all standards, with the Sunday team particularly keen to attract some new talent.

For more information about the club, contact Mr Mottram on 01380 840612 or admottram@ googlemail.com