A MINIATURE railway club that has given rides to thousands of children is being 'evicted' from two sites.

Taunton Model Engineers (TME) is preparing to quit Taunton's Vivary Park and Creech St Michael's Queen Elizabeth II Playing Fields following rows with the site owners.

They are leaving Vivary Park after Taunton Deane Borough Council hired out the pavilion the group used as its base for use as a commercial cafe.

TME chairman David Hartland said annual rent was rising 30 per cent to £500, while it would cost £9,000 to site a replacement building in the park.

He said TME wants £2,600 compensation from Creech St Michael Parish Council after it announced it is terminating the club's lease as it seeks to install more equipment in the playing fields.

Mr Hartland said: "Our club's angry that many years of volunteers’ work and donations are being pushed aside for commercial gain.

"Do we really need a third café in Vivary Park? Does the recreation ground in Creech St Michael really need redevelopment when so much green space in the area has gone already?

"We've paid rental at both sites over a long period and think we've been treated very unfairly.

"We're looking for a new site for the two railways which we can own outright.”

TDBC is keen to keep TME in Vivary because of its "community value".

A spokesman said: "It's been the intention to move TME’s equipment and materials into temporary storage which, subject to necessary permissions, is being located in the vicinity of the track.

"Longer term, it's hoped a permanent structure can be built.”

Creech St Michael Parish Council has permission for a sports pavilion at the playing fields and is installing more play equipment.

Chairman Simon Hutchings said: "We've offered TME a five-year rolling lease, but they've refused and want a 99-year lease.

"Because they won't sign, we've been advised by our solicitors to evict them.

"They can sign and stay, paying around £1,000 a year rent, which means we're subsidising them, even though few of their members live in Creech."