Today, Datchet Parish Council and the Clerk are under investigation on multiple fronts into the disputed governance of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust. The Datchet Hall lock was first changed in April 2025. The Councillors named here were involved in the change of lock. In October 2026 – Datchet Parish Council Chairman David Buckley (Reform UK) should have been chairing a Council Meeting. Instead Cllr Buckley was out at night with a locksmith drilling and replacing the high security Datchet Hall lock. Cllr Buckley also arranged for 24 hour security to prevent the trustees from entering the Datchet Hall building.
So what’s the problem?
The last Datchet Parish Council election was held in 2015. Cllr Buckley (supported by mainly co-opted Councillors including himself) is claiming that Datchet Parish Council is the sole Trustee of the Datchet Recreation Centre Charity Trust – who own the land and buildings.
So who is investigating?
The External Auditor, Thames Valley Police, the Charity Commission, the Land Registry and the Monitoring Officer are all involved. In addition – preparations are underway to request a Court Injunction for the DRCCT Trustees to regain access to the Datchet Hall.
Are there any other issues?
It looks like DPC has no lease or licence for the use of No 1 Allen Way, the DUC lease for No 2 Allen Way may be vitiate, and the Datchet Football Club lease for No 5 Allen Way has expired and not been renewed.
MORE TO FOLLOW: