IT HAS survived arson and vandal attacks but now the future of a popular recreation ground is in doubt after council bosses refused to renew a long-term lease.

The Hunts Pond Road ground is used every weekend by football teams in the Fareham and Gosport league but changing room facilities have been repeatedly targeted by vandals.

A recent arson attack prompted council officers to apply for a longer term lease to invest in permanent rather than the existing temporary changing facilities.

But county bosses said the long-term future of the site as a recreation ground could not be guaranteed and the lease would not be granted.

Fareham's outdoor recreation officer Charlie Read said: "We had hoped the lease could be extended so we could invest in permanent changing facilities but the council have said that, due to an imminent local plan review, the status of the site as a recreation ground could not be guaranteed."

The local plan is due to be carried out by Fareham in two years time. It is primarily a review of the housing allocation sites across the borough, raising fears the site could be scrapped as a recreation ground.

A spokeswoman for Hampshire County Council said: "Part of the land is used for football pitches the rest is divided between grazing and part of a school playing field.

"We don't feel able to commit ourselves to a long-term lease until the long term future of the site is established.

"That cannot be done until the future of the landholding is decided which will be considered in the forthcoming local plan review by Fareham."

The decision has left the future of the ground, which is used by football, cricket and archery clubs, in doubt.

Mr Read said: "This has left us with a problem.

"It will be difficult to carry on as we are. Another option is to scrap the changing rooms altogether but I don't know if that would be acceptable for the league."

Mel Watch, secretary of the Fareham and Gosport football league said it would be a blow if the future of the ground was not secure.

"It is better to keep what we have already got rather than have nothing at all."