PETERSFIELD Rugby Club members are "absolutely delighted" after receiving a massive £150,000 East Hampshire District Council grant. The handout puts the club well on the way to funding much-needed new changing rooms at its Penns Place home and secures the future of "the heartbeat" of the town. And Petersfield Cricket Club stands to benefit, with players sharing the improved facility in summer. Rugby club president Cliff Fairley told The Herald: "We are absolutely delighted. It really secures our future as a major club in Hampshire. "It gives us the opportunity to house all the players that we have – particularly our juniors and female players – with up-to-the-minute facilities. "We are extremely grateful to EHDC. In fairness, we went for a grant not expecting what they eventually gave us. "But they said they had a view for the future in the area and they were prepared to support us. "We are still short of a bit of money, but I think we can manage the rest. "Hopefully the improvements will be finished by the end of 2006." At a cabinet meeting last week, councillors took it in turns to throw their weight behind the scheme, which would see new changing rooms, a physiotherapy room and a toilet block added to the existing clubhouse. And members said they wanted to see the area used as a multi-sports facility which would benefit the community. Council leader Andrew Pattie, who has long campaigned for the area to be earmarked as a centre for sport, said: "Over the last four years we have given quarter of a million pounds for sports in the region. "Petersfield Rugby Club is an immensely important organisation. It is the heartbeat of the town. It would otherwise not be receiving our attention." And Jennifer Gray added: "I think this is the most enormous step forward and I think we must do it. The potential is enormous. If we are to encourage a burgeoning rugby team we must support it. But some were concerned about the democratic nature of the decision last week, saying not enough councillors were consulted. Clanfield and Finchdean district councillor, Peter Rodgers said: "The democratic side of this concerns me. To commit £150,000 to this is a major item which I believe should have gone before the council before any steps were made. "We read in the report that two councillors were consulted but no other councillors were involved." And Liphook representative Anna James told the cabinet not to forget other communities in the area while handing out sports grants. "We have to make sure that we are looking at it fairly from all the villages and hamlets around. There are lots of community clubs that have to be accommodated," she said.
