The Belle River Minor Soccer Club says the Municipality of Lakeshore is not keeping up their side of the deal over promises made prior to the construction of the Atlas Tube Centre.
The club had a lease agreement until 2032 for the lands of the Atlas Tube Centre, but allowed the construction to move forward on the promise of better facilities. The club says they have given up 50% of their lands for construction of the ATC.
"We willingly let the town build on top of us, and it's actually one of the biggest regrets we have currently is working with them and having to come to this point," says Rad Stevanovic, club president.
The club says they were promised a lit soccer pitch, stands, outdoor washrooms, irrigated fields and a competition level field. Stevanovic says since the building of the ATC they have been given the runaround and the town has not followed through.
"We've moved, we've moved, we've moved back, we're working out of the back of the arena, moving from one side of the arena to the other, it's been just a giant mess and we felt it was time we straighten the record out," says Stevanovic.
Councillors instructed administration to sit down with the club to go over all of their grievances.
"We've met with them in the past as far as their ATC Centre went and putting it on their location and relocating their soccer fields. Unfortunately money is always a big question," says Mayor Tom Bain. "Also there's been a problem with getting the fields prepared in time."
Council also passed a motion to erect a fence along the side of the soccer pitches to stop balls from going into the streets. Administration says they will consult with the club on the location of the fence before it is erected.