Ashby de la Zouch Town Council has tonight (Monday) agreed to complete a 'once-in-a-lifetime' deal to buy the Bath Grounds.

At a meeting of the Full Council, a recommendation was passed to put a £620,000 purchase in place to secure the historical open space 'for the people of the town'.

The transaction means that the Bath Grounds is now effectively separate from the recent revised planning application for development around the Royal Hotel.

Also, the money paid is to be used by Oakland Hotels Ltd - to renovate the Royal Hotel.

Councillors were told that: "The Town Council now has a once in a lifetime to acquire the freehold to the Ashby Bath Grounds

"All reasonable steps have been put in place to try and ensure that the proceeds of the purchase will be used by Oakland Hotels Ltd to secure and renovate the Royal Hotel."

A recent meeting of the council's Parks & Recreation Committee said that the deal did not depend on the hotels owners gaining planning permission for the redevelopment site and the area behind the cricket club pavilion.

An application for the finance required for the council's £620,000 purchase was put in place in March of last year.

But town clerk, Jack Fargher, admitted it had been a 'long and winding road' - with the matter first raised 10 years ago.

Mr Fargher was congratulated by councillors for his efforts in getting the purchase to this stage.

Bur the town clerk also thanked Ian Riley, solicitor with Ashby firm Fishers, who assisted the council throughout the process of putting the purchase into place.

Mr Fargher admitted the deal could not have happened without the work Fishers put in to get to the council this point.

Cllr Roger Bayliss said: "This is a sterling piece of work. The council should recognise the work put in by Jack.

"He's done the town proud."

Cllr Gill Hoult added: "I've seen the mountain of work Jack has had to go through, it's very much appreciated.

"But let's not forget it was the leader of the council, John Coxon, who instigated this, that the Town Council buy the Bath Grounds to protect them for future generations."

Cllr Dan Harrison said: "It's been a tough run, but sheer determination has been shown.

"But it's the council's duty to do this deed for the people of Ashby and I think it's fantastic."

Cllr Barbara Kneale added: "I echo what's been said, but I hope it doesn't drag, and two weeks is not long compared to what's taken so far."

Cllr David Bigby said: "I welcome this, I know it's taken a long time. There were some concerns about the price we were paying, but that's water under the bridge now."

The town clerk added: "I took over in 2011, and the first discussion on this was in June, 2012 - nearly 10 years on from that.

"It's been a hell of a process.

"Some of it has been very complicated.

"It's been a long and winding road in the words of Lennon and McCartney."

The Friends of the Bath Grounds group describes the site as: "In the heart of the town's heritage area, the Bath Grounds form part of the Ashby Green Corridor which connects the south of the town to Ashby Castle, creating its unique 'Countryside in the Town Feel'".