PETERSFIELD Rugby Club is to receive nearly £14,000 from East Hampshire district councillors to help pay for temporary changing facilities next season.

At a meeting of the cabinet last week members agreed to make a special grant from their revenue budget rather than use money from the Community Initiatives Fund.

Although members were keen to help the rugby club overcome its difficulties next season, they were worried that using funds from the newly-set-up Community Fund would break the ground rules set for its use.

Geoffrey Whittle echoed the fears of fellow councillors when he told the meeting: ÒWhat concerns me is that this application drives a coach and horses through our criteria and if we grant it, it could bounce back on us.Ó

Corporate director for business and economy, Eric Norman, suggested that it would be better to use funds from the revenue budget.

He said there was an underspend last year in community development and this could fund the project.

Councillors felt that this would make it easier for rugby club members to approach them again in the future for more funds when they wanted to build an extension to their club house as a permanent solution to their changing room shortage.

The cabinet heard that the club needed to raise £25,000 to pay for temporary changing rooms after losing facilities rented by the town council at the Taro Leisure Centre.

Petersfield town councillors have agreed to give the club a grant of £11,000 towards the cost.