OXFORD’S largest scout group moved out of its home of 50 years this week after a three-year row with a parish council.

The Fourth Oxford Scout Group said they were ‘evicted’ from their hut at the Louie Memorial Playing Fields in North Hinksey over a council development.

The parish council plan, which has been years in the making, will see the existing pavilion and old scout hut demolished and replaced by a larger, more modern complex at the playing fields in Arnold’s Way.

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The argument reached a climax in December when Fourth Oxford revealed it had launched legal action against the council.

A petition was also started that gathered more than 1,000 signatures but, despite their efforts, the youth group moved out on Monday.

Removal vans were parked on Arnold’s Way to remove the groups belongings

Removal vans were parked on Arnold’s Way to remove the group's belongings

Parish council chairman David Kay revealed that the council had made repeated offers to Fourth Oxford to discuss ways forward over the past few years.

He said: “We would like to make it clear that the Scouts themselves have chosen to vacate the scout hut on Arnold’s Way at this time despite having the option of signing a rent-free lease that would have seen them remaining in place until at least April 2022.

“Our plan remains to replace the current dilapidated buildings on the site with a new pavilion that is suitable for use by all community groups.

“This means that we are unable to meet the Scouts’ demand for a new 20-year lease.”

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This has always been the council’s stance but the Scouts say that their offer is just not good enough.

Fourth Oxford will now store their kit at Youlbury Scout camp until they restart their face-to-face activities at the end of the summer when they will use Oxford Rugby Club’s facilities.

The beautifully painted hut that was the home of the Scouts for 50 years

The beautifully painted hut that was the home of the Scouts for 50 years

When North Hinksey drew up its proposal, it said that the new facilities were planned particularly considering the needs of children and youth activities, including the Scouts, the youth club and potentially activities for babies and toddlers.

A Scout group member commented on the move: “We have just vacated our hut on Arnold’s Way, which we built almost 50 years ago, even though it has many years of use left in it.

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“We have moved against our wishes to secure the long-term future of the group.

“This is because of the new community centre project – even though, physically, the scout hut does not need to be knocked down if the new pavilion is to be built, and even though North Hinksey Parish Council have no use for our building whilst it tries to find funding for its proposed project.

“We have explained the difficulties to the parish council again and again, and have put forward a number of viable alternative plans, but since 2018 the parish council has refused to engage with the issues or consider the alternatives.

“Unfortunately, either the current project works as a community centre, or it works for a large and thriving scout group, but it cannot work as both.”