Agreement Settles Immediate Future For GWR Staff Association
A Truro community venue with over 500 members is celebrating after securing its immediate future by settling a dispute with its landlord over a new tenancy.
The GWR Staff Association’s 70 year old base near Truro station had been the subject of a long-standing dispute for a new tenancy against their landlord Network Rail. The dispute was finally settled on Wednesday 24 March by an out of court agreement for a new 10 year lease of the building starting in July - avoiding a three day hearing at Truro County Court.
Network Rail had previously agreed to sell the site to developer, Wain Homes (South West) Limited, which then tried to terminate the lease of the Association in 2008, with the agreement of Network Rail. The Association was then forced to instruct solicitors to issue a claim for a new lease in the Truro County Court, and obtained an Order requiring Network Rail to grant it a new lease in January 2009 when Wain Homes pulled out of the site.
Since that time, there has been a continuing dispute with Network Rail over the terms of the new lease, and in particular, how long the new lease should be. Network Rail had been arguing for a 6 month lease, to allow it to sell the premises to another residential developer.
Dennis Healy, Chairman of the Association, said “I am pleased that we were able to finally reach agreement with Network Rail. After over 70 years here, and all the investment the Association has put into the premises, we never expected our landlord, Network Rail, to sell our Club for residential development. We have had almost two years of worry and expense fighting for a new lease against first, Wain Homes, and then Network Rail. If we had lost the case it would have had serious repercussions for the Club and the local community. The new lease will allow the Association to start planning ahead again”.
Published 26/03/2010
