THE Farnham Rugby Club bid to relocate to a new ground at Monkton Lane could be back on the rails, with a new partner prepared to see the scheme through a public inquiry, if need be. It is just over a year since David Lloyd Leisure, which was to have provided most of the money for the combined rugby club and leisure centre project, pulled out. The scheme had gained planning consent after a protracted battle, but was "called in" for a public inquiry before decision by the Government Office for the South East. The company pulled the plug, unwilling to risk failure. Since then the club has continued to struggle on with water-logged sub-standard pitches at Wrecclesham, without the capacity to serve the adults and children who want to be involved. However, a new application for planning consent is expected to be submitted before the end of the year, in a partnership with Fleet-based Stax leisure group, whose chairman, Max Wildsmith, lives at Bentley. Mr Wildsmith told The Herald that the plan will avoid some of the shortcomings of the David Lloyd scheme, for instance in the availability of the sporting facilities to the general public. It is believed the plan for the rugby club will include four rugby pitches, one of them of international size, plus a training area. The other facilities planned for the 22-acre site are a club with indoor pool, four or five squash courts, indoor badminton area, gym, spa, bar, restaurant, shop, eight outdoor tennis courts and two pay-and-play tennis courts. Waverley Council has organised a planning forum, similar to those being run for the East Street development, to be held on Thursday, September 22, in its Godalming offices, to allow discussion of issues before the formal planning application is lodged. Stewart Edge, councillor for Weybourne and Badshot Lea, this week expressed disappointment that the plan has surfaced again, but added: "The new planning forum process is a good one to make sure the issues are discussed, and I'll be working hard to make sure residents' views are heard in the forum." Geoff Robins, the rugby club chairman, is nevertheless hoping that "the 2012 effect" - new enthusiasm for sport with the London Olympics in prospect - will have an influence. And he added: "At the time this came up before, the focus on obese children wasn't there. Now there's recognition by the public that the engagement of children in sport is an absolute necessity for the health of the nation."
