SPORTS clubs the length and breadth of West Devon are struggling for survival as they face a massive hike in rates bills for the third year running.

Representatives from clubs in Tavistock and Okehampton have warned the borough council that many groups are in jeopardy.

They say the council's 'cynical withdrawal' of rates relief over the last three years could see the end of 'sport as we know it'.

A delegation met West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett at the weekend to press their case.

Sports club representatives last week had a meeting with borough treasurer Lesley Halton, but they say it resulted in an impasse.

West Devon claims it cannot afford rates relief to sports clubs as it already gives rural relief rate to village shops and post offices.

Terry Pearce, of Brentor Cricket Club, told the Times: 'We have been fighting this for a number of years as our rates have gone through the roof.

'We are a small, village cricket club which is run by volunteers who give their time to coaching and training young players.

'The rates are ludicrous — up by some 60 per cent — and what gets me, is the more you raise to improve facilities, the less relief you get.'

John Gauler, spokesman for Tavistock Cricket Club, said: 'The council just don't want to know.

'Why are we all the poor relations in West Devon? We have to work hard to raise money and find extra sponsors — if we don't get help rugby and cricket will just fade away.'

And treasurer of Tavistock Hockey Club, Steph Mills, said her club was struggling too.'It's even more harsh as we are not even playing on our own pitch at the moment,' she said.

'We have to hire an astroturf pitch at Bickleigh Barracks in Plymouth which adds to our costs. We used to get 90 per cent rate reduction but this has been reduced to 40 per cent.'

Spokesman for the Okehampton clubs, Simon Essex, said: 'We know of no other aspect of community life in West Devon or anywhere else which has been subject to tax increases of this level — we think this is bias.

'Our argument is very simple: sports clubs are paying for rural rate relief — that logic is unescapable not debatable. West Devon has cynically withdrawn rates relief and given it to village shops.'

Mr Essex said the borough council recently created a new post — a sports development officer.

'If taxation of sports clubs continues, we will not need a sports development officer but a resurrection officer,' he said. 'Sports clubs are going to need to make the best comeback since Lazarus.'

Mr Burnett on Monday met borough chief executive David Incoll and Peter Hill, chairman of the policy and resources committee.

Mr Burnett said: 'These clubs have thousands of members and they have been refused proper rate relief.

'I will move heaven and earth to make sure they survive — I cannot stress enough how important sport is for all, especially the young.

'We are so lucky we have such a number of dedicated people committed to youth training. This voluntary work in our borough cannot be undermined — it is so constructive and worthwhile and it could all be lost.'

There will be a further meeting between sports representatives, borough officers and Mr Burnett in the near future.

Borough treasurer Lesley Halton said: 'We have absolutely no influence on the way business rates are charged. It is not our fault — the Inland Revenue sets the rateable value and the Government sets the rate in the pound. We are simply a collection agency.

'We have given more rate relief to sports clubs than ever before but we are getting more applications so the slices of cakes are thinner.'