A scout group must find a new base after being evicted from the hut it has used for the past 40 years.

The 1st Borough Green Scout Group is urging Reynolds Retreat to reconsider its decision to end the lease on the land at the edge of its health spa in Borough Green, Sevenoaks as it is struggling to find an alternative place to meet.

Tim Coppard, chairman of the 1st Borough Green Scout Group trustee board, say they have been told they must leave by next month after four decades in the same hut.

The news comes after months of discussions over whether the lease on the small parcel of land at the beginning of the health spa’s driveway could be extended past the arranged June cut-off date.

Mr Coppard feels the scout-owned hut is doing no harm on the land and the 80 youngsters who use it should be allowed to continue to do so.

However, chief executive of Reynolds Retreat, Emma Reynolds feels the land is no longer safe for the children and would like them to find new premises.

However, Mr Coppard said finding somewhere that would be available three times a week is not easy as it would need parking if it is outside the village, land for the youngsters to play and space to store camping equipment.

Hiring new premises is expected to cost nearly £4,000 per year, compared to the current free lease, meaning the group could be forced to increase its termly subscriptions for parents.

“This would be regrettable and may leave some parents struggling to pay given the current economic conditions,” Mr Coppard said. “But sadly, we may not have any choice.”

Ms Reynolds said she believed the time was right for the scout group to move.

“I believe the site is unsafe,” she said.

“It is very dark, despite me installing lampposts which are constantly vandalised. There is no car park for dropping off and collecting the children and it is on a road in constant use at all hours of the day and night.

“The field, that is not part of the lease, that I let the scouts use is inundated with trespassing dog walkers who don’t clean up after their dogs and I feel this is no longer clean, safe or suitable for the children to use.”

She added: “The hut itself is nearly 50 years old and requires constant maintenance as does the road, lighting, grass verges.”

And she feels finding new premises should not be too difficult.

“The scouts informed me both last year and again recently that they had somewhere else they could use.

“My own research has shown there are better, safer facilities that are cheaper, with lit car parking and no onerous maintenance.

Ms Reynolds said the public announcement the scouts would be leaving the site had led to the retreat facing “defamatory abuse, false accusations, vandalism, harassment via social media and phone calls” and she felt it was better they left as soon as possible.

She added: “Reynolds Retreat is an asset to Borough Green, providing beautiful facilities and employment. The business is being negatively impacted by their behaviour and I am very disappointed.”

'It is a whole experience and a life journey and we plan to continue providing that’

Talks had originally agreed the lease could be extended for an extra three months, giving the club the chance to finish its term and tidy up, but Ms Reynolds feels this is no longer appropriate.

She said: “Reynolds is now not inclined to extend the lease beyond June 24, as I believe moving to their new home as soon as possible is best for everyone.”

One parent, who did not want to be named, said: “The scout group is frantically trying to find alternative premises to be able to continue the great work they do with these children but we can't understand why Reynolds can’t renew the lease.

“The small area of land doesn't even sit inside of their gates and is so small I am surprised Reynolds would even notice it was no longer theirs.

“It will leave a large hole in their community with some 70 children having nowhere to go and learn some very valuable life skills and opportunities not available in schools.”

There were suggestions the land would be sold as part for houses as part of the Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s Local Plan, but Ms Reynolds denied this was the case.

“There are no plans for the land to be sold or to build housing on the land,” she said.

But Mr Coppard wanted to assure parents it is not the end of the group.

“Scouting will continue in Borough Green,” he said. “We have just got to find the money to rent a permanent new premises.“

And he stressed the importance of the scouting community.

“Youngsters join us and stay with us until they are 16 or 18 years old,” he said. “It is a whole experience and a life journey and we plan to continue providing that.”