I was astounded reading the comments from our elected councillors in last week's Gazette. How did these people get elected?

“I don’t know what I’m talking about “

“I am a rugby man”

“I haven’t got a clue, as I’m not interested in football”

“ When we are short of money, homelessness is more important. “

Firstly, what should be paramount to every councillor is the wellbeing of the community that they are serving. That wellbeing includes a town football club.

Secondly, the Gazette reported a few months ago, the Basingstoke council where in the richest half of councils in England. So what has happened since October 2019?

Have all the funds gone on golden goodbyes, as the council is top of this list as well! Another Gazette scoop.

Everywhere you look around Basingstoke, there are houses being built , offices blocks being converted, and planning permission given for more houses.

The council must be adding social housing to all these developments. The golf club, opposite the golf club, Manydown, etc. Homelessness will always be there, at some level.

The council's job is to balance all requirements. A newspaper report recently stated there are over one million houses in England, that have had planning permission granted, but not yet built. I wonder how many of those are in Basingstoke.

With all this increased population we need community facilities, whether it is a replacement ice rink, a new football ground, or a bigger and better rugby clubhouse.

Coming back to the Camrose scandal, the council will not need to spend taxpayers new money on rehousing the football, if the covenant is proved to be worthless. It owns 30% of the football ground.

If we cannot get Camrose restored, it can use the money that it will receive from that sale, to build a new stadium, fit for a town which will be breaking 200,000 population in the near future.

Get a grip councillors, and do your job properly, as it is taxpayers money that covers your salaries, pensions, and golden goodbyes!

As for Mr Razzak, a person worth over £90million, perhaps he should stop trying to add to his wealth at 70 years of age, and think wouldn’t it be good to leave a legacy to the town that took me in, and give us back our ground.

I would be happy to rename it, Razzak stadium. Write off your “investment”, and be remembered for something good.

Adrian Donnelly