Funding raised through a housing development agreement in Stone is being used to help two town sports clubs merge and upgrade facilities.
Stone Rugby Club previously played matches on a site at Tilling Drive, but landowner Bibby Ltd sold the land to a housing developer.
The club agreed to move to Stone Hockey Club’s Enson Lane venue. As part of the planning permission for the site a £400,000 payment was agreed – known as a Section 106 agreement – for facilities for the newly-formed Stone Hockey and Rugby Club.
On Thursday, January 18, Stafford Borough Council’s cabinet agreed to allocate the funds to the club for the improvements. Stone Hockey Club has also previously received a grant of £200,000 when part of recreation land at Tilling Drive was used for a new retirement home.
But cabinet members heard a member of the public had raised concerns about the latest report. Councillor Tony Pearce, cabinet member for climate change, proposed the report be approved and delegated authority given to the relevant member to proceed, subject to the complaint that has been raised being investigated.
Councillor Gillian Pardesi, cabinet member for leisure, said:
“The £400,000 is specifically for sports contributions, and the Section 106 Agreement doesn’t allow for it to be used elsewhere. A member of the public has raised some comments and concerns about the contents of this report, and they might require further investigation.
“The allocation is towards the upgrade of existing grassed areas, grass pitch construction and the upgrade costs of a new clubhouse and changing rooms. Stone Hockey Club have agreed to a merger with Stone Rugby Club at their Enson Lane site on condition that Stone Rugby Club invest the £400,000 into the newly-formed Stone Hockey and Rugby Club.
“The merger of the two clubs has been approved by England Hockey and England Rugby. Without this investment, the merger will fail to go through, and Stone Rugby Club will have to find a new venue.”
Councillor Jill Hood, Cabinet Member for Community, said:
“As a resident of Stone, I’m delighted to see that we’re offering hockey as well as rugby. These two clubs really promote themselves and have a programme for very small children to go along and play.”
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2 comments
Annoymous
The hockey club never wanted the.rugby club there.and.has tried to cause trouble and to.make it as didfixult as possible for the rugby club and parents.
Richardson Neil
One of the conditions for planning permission of the care home on Tilling Drive Recreation Park was that Stone Hockey club provide a publc football pitch on part of their land. The club was given £200.000 to do this. The electricity transformer was moved from the centre of the pitch site. Has the pitch been created?
None of the bedrooms at the care home should have been occupied before the pitch was up and running.