FARNHAM Town Football Club has withdrawn one of two retrospective planning applications for works to the Memorial Ground in West Street, blaming a “technicality”.

The club recently submitted two applications to improve its changing room and other facilities at the ground, as well as a ’temporary’ extension to its car park - after undertaking the works last year without the necessary planning consent.

Farnham Town Council has since expressed concerns that the works “may be in contravention of covenants on the land”, and now the club has withdrawn the application for the car park extension.

However, when asked if the withdrawal related to the covenant, Farnham Town FC committee member Mick Morgan instead blamed “a technicality” and confirmed the club will submit a new application “shortly”.

Waverley Borough Council, which is believed to have contributed £10,000 towards the car park works, added in a statement: “The football club have withdrawn their application as the current application does not cover their future aspirations for the use of the car park – they will be submitting another application in due course.”

The council, which is both the club’s landlords and local planning authority, is yet to determine the remaining application, which can be viewed online at www.waverley.gov.uk/planning under reference WA/2017/0016.