Football in Berkshire is asking it’s readers to sign a petition urging West Berkshire Council to allow non-league, grassroots and community clubs at steps 3 to 6 to open their teabars at matches.
Bob Bacon, chairman of Binfield FC, revealed to FiB his club, has been refused permission to open its tea bar, despite other clubs around the country, including Knaphill in nearby Surrey, being given permission to do so.
Why are we calling on West Berkshire Council to change their stance? Because all Safety Advisory Group requests for West Berkshire, Bracknell Forest Council and Wokingham Borough Council are outsourced to the authority.
That means the move will affect the likes of Binfield, Bracknell Town and Wokingham & Emmbrook as well as Thatcham Town and everyone in between.
Mr Bacon said: “The West Berkshire authority have made it very, very clear to us, that we cannot do it. We went to Newhaven on Saturday and Lewes Council gave them the all clear. They served food in their tea bar and had a table in the main stand where you buy beer without the aid of the stupidly named substantial meal. This is all nuts.”
Click View Petition to sign it in the box below:
Can’t see the petition? Open it here
To be absolutely clear, Football in Berkshire is not calling for the re-opening of clubs bars unless they are able to follow government set out guidelines that include providing table service and a substantial meal.
The teabar/refreshment stand though is one of the only remaining revenue opportunities outside of gate receipts – which of course are limited by crowd numbers – and all the clubs affected have implemented and practised Covid-19 social distancing measures since the end of the first lockdown.
