Bridgnorth rugby club planning move to £1.5m base
Ambitious plans were today unveiled by Bridgnorth Rugby Football Club, which is planning to relocate to a £1.5 million purpose-built ground.
The site earmarked for the new development is Swancote Country Club near Wolverhampton on the A454.
The scheme will see large parts of the 28-acre site demolished to make way for a new ground, clubhouse and leisure facilities.
Bosses at the 52-year-old rugby club said the move will ensure its long-term survival and provide better facilities for the club, which is rapidly expanding.
The plans, which have been drawn up by Wolverhampton-based architects, Tweedale, include eight pitches, changing rooms, a bar, function room, swimming pool, sauna, steam room, beauty therapy rooms, a soft play area and a 500 capacity spectators stand overlooking the main pitch.
The club has been plagued with problems at its current site, including regular flooding, which has left the pitches unplayable, issues with the lack of parking at Severn Park and at the Edgar Davies Ground, and restricted access.
The proposal was one of five options for the future of the club, which is based at the Edgar Davies Ground in Severn Park, Low Town.
The proposals were presented to club members at a special meeting.
Other options included remaining at the team's clubhouse known as The Bull in Bridge Street, moving the club house to the current pitches, purchasing land at Tasley to create a new club, or pursuing an option to lease the Friars.
Club chairman Peter Parkes told the meeting of more than 260 members that after months of discussions and investigative work the development of a new ground at Swancote is the preferred option.
"Swancote is already identified as a leisure amenity. It has services, access and hard standing and has been offered to the club on favourable terms," he said.
"On this site we could create a purpose built facility to cater to all our needs and to be run as a sustainable financial model.
"By 2015 we will have exceeded 650 members. If we stay on Severn Park we have little opportunity to accept growth in the minis and juniors section, which currently has 320 members and is expected to rise to 350 next year." Work could begin on the new facility by the end of the year if the plans are backed.
Under the proposals, Swancote Country House would remain in place but the other buildings and structures on the site, including the outdoor swimming pool, would be demolished to make way for the revamp.
Mr Parkes said the club would look to retain ownership of The Bull and would seek to redevelop it as residential lettings.
The Edgar Davies Ground would also be retained to be used for club social and sporting events, such as the popular annual fireworks display. Other options include using the site for parking or camping during summer months. The meeting was told that money for the scheme will come from a combination of interest bearing debentures, grants, loans, fundraising and pledges.
Mr Parkes added options will be voted on by members and if Swancote is the desired option a pre-planning application will be submitted in the near future, with a view to starting work in late 2014. Mr Parkes said a two-year battle with the town council over parking issues, constant worries about floods and a lack of space to build on the thriving junior section were what forced the move.
Mayoress CouncillorVal Gill said: "It will be a great pity to see them move out of the town but if this will give them better facilities we wish them all the best.
The move could also be a new lease of life for the Swancote Country Club, which police have raided twice in the past few years, seizing a haul of cannabis with a street value estimated at £80,000.
