ir, – I feel I must comment on your headline article in The Farnham Herald on August 8. It is very encouraging for Farnham Rugby Club to have the support of the English rugby ace Jonny Wilkinson. As he points out rugby, a great sport and a good way for youngsters to keep fit and learn team spirit. I personally support their need to move and sincerely hope they will find a suitable site, but not in Monkton Lane.

Firstly the article mentions that the launch meeting in January received "warm support". Indeed it did. I was there but about 80 per cent of the audience were FRC members and supporters. They were, to say the least, a little biased.

The David Lloyd tennis facility with which they intend to collaborate is not going to be within the reach of a lot of residents as their fees are very high. The spokesperson for David Lloyd who stated "when used frequently (he believed) worked out cheaper than some local authorities" is being ambiguous. Of course, if used every day the courts would probably seem reasonable value but for those wanting an occasional game of tennis they are still going to be prohibitively expensive. Some figures would be nice, Mr Spokesperson.

The main reason for the move I believe is flooding of the present pitch. Have they really investigated the proposed Monkton Lane site? I seem to remember the football pitch on the other side of Monkton Lane next to the plant nursery was under water quite a lot and Weybourne Road continually has drainage problems. Are they really going to be so much better off? Concreting over areas already tending to flood causes more problems.

The amount of building necessary (up to four stories high) and the parking for 350 cars, plus the required floodlights, not to mention the traffic impact on an area already very busy with the Sainsbury and Water Lane roundabout traffic, make this scheme totally out of place for Monkton Lane.

Although this will probably be rejected out of hand, has Mr. Rubio considered moving perhaps to some vacated Army land which I know would mean renaming the club but might solve the club's problem more amicably??

Jennifer E. Flack,

Upper Weybourne Lane,

Farnham