A NEW era has dawned in Cowley with developer Eddie Costello handed over a new clubhouse to committee members of the former Morris Motors Athletic and Social Club, now renamed the Lord Nuffield Club.

The old clubhouse was built in the 1920s by Lord Nuffield, anxious to instill a healthy body and mind in his car workers. The new one is a product of community spirit fuelled by the property boom.

The new £4.5m facilities, complete with a 25-metre rifle range, ballrooms and bars, squash courts, and snooker room, playing field and bowling green, was built by Mr Costello's company Chesside Homes.

Committee member Norman Goodey said the club owed Mr Costello a debt of gratitude. He said: "After the bad publicity no one would help us except him."

The bad publicity stemmed from infighting between committee members. It stopped development for more than three years, and at one stage put the club into the hands of the Official Receiver.

Even as late as last week the club was threatening former chairman, Tom Doliamie, with court action to gain possession of the flat he occupied in the old clubhouse. The club needed vacant possession to demolish the building and continue development.

The new clubhouse has been built with money gained in part-exchange for land on which Chesside Homes has so far put up 23 flats and six houses.

Phase two of the development will involve building another 11 houses and 21 flats on the site of the old clubhouse.

Club secretary Michael Kelly said: "We want to bury the past and look to the future now. But we haven't yet decided who we'll invite to perform the opening ceremony, or when it will be.

"Part of the troubles in the past stemmed from members thinking if the club closed they would all receive a share of money paid by a developer. But they didn't realise that most of the club land, the playing field for instance, would never receive planning permission."

Mr Costello added: "Thirty per cent of this development is for social housing from which I shall not make a penny."

The club's troubles date back to February 2004 when the committee sacked its chairman Tom Doliamie following a dispute about the size of the proposed new clubhouse.

Later that year a court decided that his sacking had been illegal - and he in turn sacked the committee and sued them for delaying development.

Now the county court has ordered former committee members to pay costs - though the exact amount has yet to be finalised.

Matters were further complicated when Mr Doliamie was declared bankrupt and stepped down as chairman.

Social membership of the club stands at £16 a year. Full gym membership at £48 a month.

Mr Kelly said: "The great change here is reflected in the change of name. This is now a community club open to all, not just to those with connections to the motor industry."