A DISPUTE has broken out between Whitchurch Commoners and Tavistock Cricket Club over the erection of a fence at Whitchurch Down. The club was awarded a £3,500 grant by the Lords? Taverners for two coaching nets, to be used by its youngsters. But Whitchurch Commoners? Association has objected to the request. The club wanted the nets erected in the car parking area in April for the beginning of the cricket season and taken down in September for storage during winter. But it also wanted to put a lockable fence around the structure during the night as a precaution against vandalism. Chairman of Whitchurch Commoners? Association Lindsay Rogers said the matter was discussed at two committee meetings and, while members appreciated the need for the youngsters to practise, they were ?strongly opposed? to the fencing of common land, covered under the Law of Property Act 1925, section 194. Mr Rogers said: ?The members believe that any fencing of common land would lead to a loss of common rights, even if only partial. ?They also believe that if this fencing was allowed to go ahead it would set a precedent.? President of Tavistock Cricket Club Stuart Munday said the two semi-permanent nets were needed as more than 50 colts had enrolled for the coming season. He said the nets needed to be secured behind fencing as equipment left out in the past had been vandalised. Mr Munday said: ?The club, who this season will be running three senior sides as well as three colts sides, are obviously pretty disappointed. ?This year saw the stopping of subsidies paid to farmers and landowners on the moor, hence there will be fewer animals to graze, and the small piece of land reserved by the cricket club would have made absolutely no difference.? Now the club plans to use the nets in an enclosure at the back of the pavilion although they will have to be taken out every time they are used. West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett said he was ?astonished and disappointed? at the commoners? lack of support for what is ?a most worthwhile cause?. ?This is a scheme that has my support, the support of West Devon Borough Council, Tavistock Town Council, Dartmoor National Park and the Lords? Taverners. We are only talking about a very small area of land adjacent to the cricket club and the land could not be put to better use. ?We should be doing all we can to support young people and their involvement in sporting activities. If opportunities are not available for socially acceptable activities like sports, young people will turn to less socially desirable activities.?