PETERSFIELD Rugby Club has suffered another blow after Petersfield Town CouncilÕs grounds committee recommended that the ground rent on the site be hiked up by a massive 360 per cent.
The existing ground rent on the Penns Farm site is £162.50 per year but this is now set to rise to £750 after a recent valuation by the district valuer.
The club was forced to hire temporary changing rooms this summer at a cost of £25,000 a year, after the town council gave up its designated changing rooms at the Taro Leisure Centre.
The cost was met by grants from East Hampshire District Council and Petersfield Town Council, but the club now has to raise £400,000 for permanent facilities.
Petersfield Rugby Club has not commented on the rent increase but is due to discuss the matter at the next meeting of its executive in October.
The townÕs grounds committee recognised that the increase was large but felt that it had to be accepted.
John Crowhurst said: ÒIt would not be fair on other organisations where we have accepted the district valuerÕs figure.Ó
But Chris Jenner said: ÒI find it hard to believe that someone could put this value on the rugby club when commercially it has no value at all.Ó