A GROUP seeking to set up a major sports facility in Tavistock is threatening to report West Devon Borough Council to the Ombudsman unless the authority promises it funding.

Crowndale Recreational Association claims the council has behaved in an 'unethical' manner and says it will sever links with the borough if it refuses cash towards a mini soccer project in Tavistock.

The CRA's tough talking was sparked when a request for funding was deferred from last week's meeting of the council's development committee.

CRA secretary Jan Baylis has lodged a formal complaint to the borough.

She said: 'I was astonished by the intervention of the chief executive only seconds before a democratic vote was to be made.'

Mrs Baylis said chief executive David Incoll told the committee a letter had been sent to the CRA offering help to produce its business plan.

As a result, a vote to agree an 'in principle' sum of £51,000 to the CRA providing they came up with an acceptable business plan was never taken and the matter was deferred to next week's policy meeting.

'The CRA had not immediately before, nor subsequently, received a letter as described by the chief executive,' said Mrs Baylis.

She hoped funding which 'appeared to be within minutes of being pledged before Mr Incoll's distracting intervention' would be approved at next week's meeting — if not, the CRA will consider carrying out its threats.

CRA chairman John Warne said: 'What else can we do? We have been treated so badly. We don't want to be in this position but we are hoping they will see the hoops we have been driven through.

But Mr Incoll said: 'I wasn't aware that it was wrong for a chief executive to give advice to members, particularly in the absence of the borough treasurer, when consideration is given to financial commitments.

'Of course, members were free to accept or reject my advice.'

He said he intervened because a sum of money was being proposed without enough financial information to consider it properly.

'My officers are continuing to help this project and as usual we wish to assist the community increase its facilities.

'As far as we are concerned, nothing has been prejudiced.'

Lesley Halton, borough treasurer, said the council wrote to the CRA on January 21 offering guidance and help on the production of its business plan.

She said: 'What we are trying to do is to be helpful and lay out exactly what we need to have back from them.

'We have been completely transparent and up-front about everything.'

Cllr Nick Morgan, development committee chairman, said the debate had 'petered out' because there were so many uncertainties.

'As far as I can remember, there was no seconder for the motion.'

Cllr Dick Eberlie, who made the 'in principle' proposal, said the two parties were in a 'chicken and egg' position concerning funding from the borough and a business plan from Crowndale.

'It's a silly situation — something has to be done to break the log-jam,' he said.

Last month, the CRA announced a £97,500 application to the Football Association, part of a £150,000 scheme to develop mini soccer pitches and basic changing facilities on its land in the Crowndale Valley.

The CRA says there is exceptional demand for football pitches in West Devon with a growing number of youth teams playing in the area.

A much larger bid to the National Lottery for a multi-sports centre at Crowndale failed in 1997.