FARNHAM Rugby Club's five-year battle for a new and improved ground at Monkton Lane is far from over, following the "call-in" of its plans by the Government Office of the South East. The news dreaded by club members, that there must now be a public inquiry, comes following the euphoria of last month, when Waverley Council's planning committee gave the proposals the nod by a wide majority. The application submitted by Stax (Farnham) Ltd and which involves a large, privately run leisure complex as part of the deal, has the support of Waverley planning and leisure officers. John Anderson, Waverley's planning and development manager, said he had expressed his disappointment to the club. "The unusual thing about this inquiry is that the applicant and the council will be arguing the same case, rather than arguing against each other," he added. The officer said the Secretary of State had asked to be informed particularly about issues under eight headings. Included were such matters as the siting in the strategic gap between Aldershot and Farnham, the need for the facilities and how they fit in with open space, sport and recreational policies and whether the benefits outweigh the loss of the site for mineral extraction. Whatever the outcome, the club, which launched its original bold move for a better ground in December 2002, will remain in limbo for some time yet. Max Wildsmith, chairman of the Stax leisure group, could hardly contain his fury. "At the very best, it is another year's delay and another £100,000 in costs. We can't get on with planning the development because we don't know whether they're going to make the right decision." Unlike former partner David Lloyd Leisure, which baled out at the prospect of a public inquiry three years ago, leaving the club high and dry, Stax declared at the onset of its partnership in August 2005 that it was "in it for the long haul". Mr Wildsmith admitted this week that he had never dreamt just how long that would be. "We are just speechless that it has been called in. We thought that we had improved the scheme so much that we didn't think the government would want to see it." As well as providing the land for the rugby club's four pitches, car parking and pavilion, the promise is that Stax will pay £50,000 towards laying out of the rugby facilities. The privately-run sports and leisure club that is implicit in the deal will include a sports hall, indoor and outdoor swimming pools and tennis courts (two of them public) multi-use games area, badminton and squash courts, multi-gym, health spa, restaurant and conference facilities. There has been much comment from opponents of the proposal, that few local people would be able to afford the private club's fees. But the council had negotiated a package to ensure that the community has some opportunities, through some free use of facilities for local youngsters together with coaching and outreach programmes. "There are benefits to local schools, sports clubs, community groups... you name it," said Mr Wildsmith. "We don't see that central government has got any business in deciding the application," he commented, accusing the government of "banging on about obesity" while at the same time putting the block on sporting opportunities. Club chairman Geoff Robins echoed this view: "The government is saying that it wants to put sport at the heart of the community but puts every hurdle imaginable in the way of this being a reality. He broke the news of the call-in to club members, declaring: "In my opinion this is an issue that transcends local politics. "Frankly, it's about whether the provision of sporting facilities is more important to a community than mineral extraction or the preservation of an unused field with two horses on it. "All parties, Waverley Borough Council, Stax Ltd and ourselves are bitterly disappointed by this decision, but in great rugby tradition we must accept the referee's decision and get on with the rest of the game." Mr Robins anticipated the inquiry would be in around six months' time. "To say that this is frustrating is an understatement but we must maintain our spirit and resolve . "Although I know this news is disappointing, we must remember the dream is still alive." A reminder that the dismay will not be shared by a number of Weybourne and Badshot Lea residents came from Farnham councillor Victor Duckett, however. "I will be disappointed if, following the inquiry, this goes ahead. I don't know any locals that want this 'aircraft hangar' on the site. There's an awful lot of opponents that would like to be at the inquiry. "We made these policies to protect the strategic gap and it is in our local plan that it needs to be protected. It's the third time it has been under attack. We objected to the last two and should do so again."
