LUCKLESS Farnham Rugby Club has suffered the latest blow in its protracted battle to move to a new ground at Monkton Lane, Badshot Lea. The long-awaited public inquiry into the planning application, which incorporates the rugby facilities alongside a commercial leisure complex operated by STAX, has been halted partway through. The hearing was taking place as the result of the application, which had been given the green light by Waverley Borough Council, being 'called in' for decision by the Government Office for the South East. But the club's QC was taken ill and admitted to hospital during the second week and proceedings will not now resume until November 10. Informing club members of the delay, club chairman Geoff Robins explained: "During the second week of the inquiry we would have had the opportunity to cross examine the witnesses/ experts put forward by Canons and Surrey County Council (the scheme's main opponents) and therefore our QC was absolutely vital to this process. "This is clearly a very disappointing and frustrating outcome but I am afraid it is something over which we don't have any control. "We must however stay focused on doing the best we can with what we have got and building for the future. It is important to remember that we have lost nothing by this delay - in fact what we have gained is the opportunity to ensure the financial success of the project."
