PETERSFIELD Rugby Club could be boosted by a £150,000 East Hampshire District Council grant to help make its dream of a revamped clubhouse become a reality. The club wants to build a £400,000 single- storey extension to the existing pavilion at Penns Place, which could also house the town's cricket club. If EHDC councillors approve their officer's recommendation, the cash would help provide six additional changing rooms, a new toilet block and a physiotherapist room. Members were due to discuss the proposal at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and if it gets the go ahead, the rugby club would be on its way to completing the project by September 2006. The club has already secured a grant of £100,000 from Rugby Football Development Ltd and £2,500 from Petersfield Town Council. This would be added to a Rugby Football Federation loan of £100,000 and £23,000 from the club's own fundraising efforts. Club members have vowed to raise a further £37,000. According to a report by EHDC community manager Michael O'Mahoney, the council has been "requested to approve the release of £150,000 from the council's capital reserves, as the council's contribution to this project". The funds, the report said, would come from EHDC's capital resources as a contribution. The report added: "By developing the clubhouse facilities at Penns Place, both rugby and cricket clubs will have the means and the opportunity to move forward in developing their young players, utilising facilities more effectively and sharing resources all year round. "This will safeguard their long-term presence at the Penns Place site. With the long-term future of the clubs assured, investigation in to future sports development on the site can take place. Officers are already planning to set up a steering group together with "key stakeholders" to investigate the possibility of further sports developments in the area. "This project makes a significant contribution to the council's priorities, improving community facilities and promoting active lifestyles, while also promoting the voluntary sector through Petersfield rugby and cricket clubs." Earlier this year, EHDC leader Andrew Pattie exclusively told The Herald it was an "auspicious" time and that senior sports figures across the region were working together to provide the region with up-to- date facilities. But this week's report warned that failure to release the funds could see the club lose its league status. "If this project does not proceed, Petersfield Rugby Club could lose its league status for failing to comply with league regulations and could consequently lose its promising players to other clubs. "The extension of the existing building will also enable the cricket club to utilise the facilities, thus removing the need for capital expenditure to build a new cricket pavilion on the site in the near future."
