A LONG-RUNNING mystery concerning the ownership of a village pavilion could be settled once and for all by the end of the year.Confusion has surrounded the possession of the pavilion on Ufford's recreation ground for more than a decade, with three separate community groups each claiming a stake in the property.

A LONG-RUNNING mystery concerning the ownership of a village pavilion could be settled once and for all by the end of the year.

Confusion has surrounded the possession of the pavilion on Ufford's recreation ground for more than a decade, with three separate community groups each claiming a stake in the property.

Ufford parish council, the recreation ground charity committee and the Ufford Sports and Social Club all believe the pavilion could belong to them.

They have been forced to call in an independent negotiator to chair a public meeting at the end of next month, in the hope of settling the dispute.

Gordon Dunmore, secretary of the Ufford Sports and Social Club, said: "The parish council own the land on which it stands, the charity committee manage the ground and the Sports and Social Club run the pavilion itself, so it is a real issue.

"The problem has been going on for years and we need to clear the whole thing up.

"If the Sports and Social Club were granted ownership it would be great for us as it would mean we can carry on as we are.

"Probably, in some ways, it would be sensible for the parish council to have it as the land is owned by them but, if this was to happen, we would need to come to some sort of agreement as to how we could continue to run."

The pavilion was opened in the early 1990s after a fire destroyed the Portacabin that stood there originally.

At present the Sports and Social Club take responsibility for upkeep of the building but until the ownership puzzle has been resolved, no expansion work can take place.

The problem reached its peak when the parish council drew up a plan to expand the pavilion and turn it into a village hall.

Parish clerk Heather Heelis said: "The problem has been evolving over the years and I think everyone agrees that we need to find out who the owner really is.

"The parish council would obviously like ownership to be transferred to them so that it can be used for the whole community.

"We have set aside money for a feasibility study but we cannot go any further than that until we know who actually owns the building."

A public meeting to discuss the ownership issue is to be held at Ufford Park Hotel on Wednesday September 29 at 7.30pm. All are welcome.

Who do you think should own the pavilion? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk