PETERSFIELD Rugby Club has been given a grant of £11,000 by town councillors towards the cost of temporary changing rooms next season.
At a full meeting of the town council, members heard that East Hampshire District CouncilÕs central area community committee had already recommended the cabinet to make a grant of almost £14,000 towards the changing rooms.
Chairman of the town councilÕs finance and general purposes committee Brian Keefe told the meeting his committee had felt that a final decision should not be made until the council had looked at the rugby clubÕs accounts. ÒWe have now had the advantage of seeing the accounts which was very helpful,Ó he told councillors.
ÒWe also know that EHDCÕs cabinet has been recommended to make a contribution, which is also helpful because now we know someone else is supporting the club as well.Ó
He said some of the things that had been said about the town council were unfair:
ÒI am anxious we should proceed because the club needs the facility next season.Ó
EHDC had been generous, Dr Keefe said, Òand that helps us to be generous, but we should not be over-generous. We should have a balance and that is to pay a reasonable amount to allow the club to go forward. Ó
George Watkinson told councillors that having looked at the clubÕs accounts he was now happy for the town council to support the club with an amount it could afford.