The fate of footballers, doctors and patients is once again under the spotlight in Cromer as a quirky saga involving the late King Olav of Norway takes a new turn.

After a long struggle against a complicated historical legal clause which affected the future of Cabbell Park – Cromer Town Football Club's Mill Road home for nearly a century – North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) looks set for another battle: to end a restrictive covenant on the land.

The council's cabinet is set to recommend on Monday that the front part of 4.17-acre Cabbell Park is sold to the nearby Cromer Group Practice for a new surgery and the existing football pitch is moved westward within the site.

The council, which owns the site, would also look at developing a multi-use sports complex somewhere on the edge of Cromer financed through selling the rest of Cabbell Park for development. Until that happened, Cromer Town FC and Cromer Youth Football Club would be allowed to play under licence at Cabbell Park.

In a report to cabinet, corporate director Steve Blatch says the moves would allow a £3.5m investment in new medical facilities on the site, with the potential of good quality new sports provision for the town.

He adds: 'It is believed that both outcomes would deliver wide community benefits which would significantly outweigh the public benefit derived from the continued use of the Cabbell Park site by Cromer Town Football Club alone.'

But NNDC's legal advisers have said the plans would contravene the terms of a 1922 trust deed which stipulates the land is open space for public use. If pursued, the covenant would need to be 'disposed of', involving advertising a proposal and considering any objections before reaching a decision.

In August last year, the council finally cleared a previous legal hurdle when it became the official owner of Cabbell Park.

Richard Cox, secretary of Cromer Town FC, said the club had not had a chance to consider the council's report.

He added: 'It's a disappointment because we have always wanted to stay at Cabbell Park but the new sports facilities would be brilliant for the town and Cromer does need a new surgery. It isn't ideal but we have got to embrace it, and move forward.'

Tracy Neave, business manager at Cromer Group Practice, welcomed the report: 'This will be an excellent opportunity to develop a modern healthcare facility and allow us to broaden the service,' she said.

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