TAMWORTH cricket may have earned a slight reprieve in its fight against council raising grounds charges.
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In an amended motion put forward by Phil Betts, Tamworth Regional Council voted to let a historical debt owed by the cricket association, worth more than $24,000, to be extinguished.
The amendment also means the rise in fees will be phased in over the next three years.
The president of the Tamworth District Cricket Association, Ben Middlebrook, implored council at the start of the meeting to undertake more consultation on the matter, which has drawn attention from national cricketers.
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Mr Middlebrook rejected council’s assertion cricket takes up 64 per cent of TRC’s sporting budget and said sport in the community should be promoted in light of Tamworth being revealed as the nation’s fattest city.
Junior cricket president Peter Graham said a hike in costs could turn kids away from the sport.
“If we let the costs go, we could see a lot miss out on playing cricket,” he said.